Support most vulnerable & fight against isolation

At the end of 2025, a new welcoming space opened its doors in the heart of Marseille: La Claire-Maison, a day shelter dedicated to women—alone or with young children—who are homeless or living in informal housing. Located on rue Breteuil in the city’s 6th district, this initiative is led by Secours Catholique Marseille, in partnership with the La Xavière Congregation, the owner of the premises. The project is the result of three years of collective effort and attentive listening to the needs expressed by the women most directly concerned.

“The Claire-Maison day shelter on rue Breteuil is a place of mutual support and fraternity, dedicated to women—alone or with young children—who are homeless or living in informal housing. Its mission is to help them break out of isolation, improve their living conditions, and empower them to take an active role in their daily lives and future.”

A PRESSING NEED FOR SPACES DEDICATED TO WOMEN

In Marseille, one third of people experiencing homelessness are women or children—a reality that often remains invisible. Although efforts have been made by public authorities since 2021, alongside the work of community organizations, existing services remain ill-suited to the specific needs of these particularly vulnerable women, many of whom are survivors of violence.

A recent Senate report confirms that women living on the streets are far more exposed to assault than men. Many develop strategies of invisibility: they hide, walk at night to avoid danger, or refuse access to mixed-gender facilities out of fear or discomfort.

“Many women don’t dare to come—or to come back—because they say they don’t feel comfortable or safe around men,” explains Pauline Duclos, a community facilitator with Secours Catholique in Marseille.

It is in response to this urgent reality that La Claire-Maison chose to operate as a women-only space—an approach now shared by several day shelters within the Secours Catholique network.

“Being among women feels better. You can step out of the shower wrapped in a towel without worrying,”says Abbla, formerly homeless and now a volunteer.

A PLACE FOR RESPITE, HEALING AND CONNECTION

The 160 m² welcoming space, spread over two floors, will initially be open three half-days per week. Our approach is rooted in a strong conviction: women urgently need a place where they can breathe, talk, wash, rest—and above all, begin to rebuild themselves in an environment of respect, dignity and fraternity.

At La Claire-Maison, women will find a caring and secure setting, offering:

• Breakfast, showers, and access to laundry facilities

• A rest room equipped with beds, allowing women to relax in complete peace

• Individual support to help them assert their rights, find housing solutions, access healthcare, and more

• Group activities designed to foster social bonds, rebuild self-esteem and restore a sense of agency

“If we can have a few hours of peace, that already means a lot,” shares Fettouma, a single mother and co-creator of the project, who has been without stable housing for two years.

A COLLECTIVE EFFORT

La Claire-Maison was built through ongoing dialogue between the Xavières, Secours Catholique, local authorities, community and social partners, and the women themselves. We warmly thank the City of Marseille for its support.

The realization of this project was made possible thanks to the commitment of several foundations dedicated to fighting social exclusion and supporting solidarity-based initiatives—as well as through your generous donations.

Bequeathed to Secours Catholique in 2019, Claire Combe is a 5-hectare site located in "la chapelle des Buis" district in Besançon.

Claire Combe is an ambitious collaborative project : it aims to become a hub of activities bringing together people from diverse backgrounds (precarious publics, supportive actors, members of the Church) around integral ecology. 

Managed by the Secours Catholique - Caritas France, the project is handled by 60 volunteers and is based on shared governance and collaboration with around 15 associations commited to social justice and climate emergency like Les Colibris, Guides et Scouts de France, Réseau Cocagne, or Unis-Cités.

This approach consists in deeply transforming our relationship with nature and others, giving priority to those experiencing a situation of poverty. The social, environmental, economic, cultural and spiritual dimensions are addressed through numerous projects linked by the site itself and the people involved.

Within this place, we will conduct many activities, such as : 

• the creation of a welcoming space dedicated to meeting and sharing : it wil gather about fifteen social, medico-social, environemental, cultural and popular education structures that find in Claire Combe a favorable place for the support of their audience.
• the elaboration of an educational farm : volunteers and precarious people practice eco-grazing thanks to the herd of goats present on the site. They also take care of farmyard animals such as donkeys, gooses or chickens.
• the organization of collective activities : volunteers will organize different workshops (harvest, pottery, adjustment works) along the year in order to create favorable conditions for meeting and conviviality but also strengthen the friendly ties that unite the members of the Calire Combe community.
• the keep of bees and growth of an orchard : bees participate in the maintenance of biodiversity. The harvested honey is partly conserved and partly sold for the benefit of Claire Combe.
• the cultivation of a vegetable garden : collective garden allow people from all conditions to learn how to cultivate and maintain a collective plot through environmentally friendly methods.
• the development of a spiritual garden :  an interreligious path dedicated to spiritual introspection.

In order to built this haven of peace and greenery, the Secours Catholique has conducted a feasibility study. It enabled us to decide on the economic model and thus make Claire Combe viable. Alongside, we are currently conducting an inventory of fixtures in order to determine the reliability of buildings, in anticipation of their future use.

Until the renovation of the dilapidated buildings, the Secours Catholique local team has purchased tents in order to ensure business continuity.

In the long run, this project should welcome about 50 people in precarious situations and 60 volunteers from different structures who will invest the third place on a recurring basis. Other people could occasionnaly visit the place to enjoy activities. 

The project budget is 115 315€, including small investments, carrying out of works and animation costs.