2023-11-25 16:05:15
Published on Nov. 25, 2023 at 3:04 p.m. Updated on Nov. 25, 2023 at 3:05 p.m.
The announcement of the judicial liquidation of the association “Du Côté des Femmes”, a major player in the care of victims of domestic violence in Val-d’Oise, created a shock wave. Two months after the decision of the Pontoise judicial court, the resumption of the association’s support, accommodation and social reintegration activities is becoming clearer. Five structures have been designated to take them over.
ARS 95, APUI les villageantes, Aurore, Esperer 95 and the French Red Cross are in the process of resuming social support for women placed in accommodation across the four corners of the department. The Val-d’Oise prefecture announces that all activities will be resumed by November 24.
Same accommodations
The future and continuity of support for the 130 women and children have been an issue and have worried the associations since the judgment of the Pontoise judicial court on September 26. “The process is completely transparent with the families. Women are not going to change apartments,” assures the Val-d’Oise prefecture. In fact, an agreement was reached with the various landlords to guarantee the retention of families who left their violent spouses in existing housing, and the lease was transferred to the new associations.
In total, 183 accommodation places are maintained and redistributed between the five associations. “Funding ensuring the care of women victims of violence will obviously be maintained and no activity will be interrupted,” underlines the prefecture, while the envelope and distribution have not yet been completely finalized.
Rise to power
The number of accommodation places should increase in the coming years thanks to the impetus of the “New Departure Pack”, intended to help women victims of violence flee their spouse for 12 weeks, for which the Val-d Oise is a pilot department at the national level.
Judicial epilogue
The associations designated to resume activities are ready to ensure the best possible continuity, despite the change in social support. “It’s difficult to see such an actor stop like that. But we are used to supporting this type of public,” says Esperer 95.
For “On the Women’s Side”, it is the end of a painful legal episode after years of financial mismanagement. Since the beginning of the year, the association, which has been present for almost 40 years in Cergy and Sarcelles, has been experiencing economic difficulties and payment defaults. The plan to reduce the debt which amounted to two million euros was not considered sufficient to save the activity and the jobs of the 40 employees.
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