Staff members and users of a Reception Centre and Reception and Orientation Centre (SAO) are commissioning an artwork that will enhance access to services and improve the daily lives of both staff and users.
For 70 years, the Gammes association in Montpellier has been active in the social sector, developing a wide range of programmes to support people facing severe hardship. Its work spans home care and health, reception, accommodation and housing, pathways to integration through economic activity, and the promotion of community life. This artistic commission relates to a facility managed by Gammes that brings together two essential services for people experiencing homelessness: the Day Reception Centre and the SAO.
The Day Reception offers access to basic needs: showers, a postal address, luggage storage, and phone charging. The SAO provides individual support sessions to guide people towards housing solutions and/or professional guidance.
The group of commissioners is made up of representatives of the different staff services, employees and volunteers, managers of the organisations, service users and local residents. The aim is to improve the quality of access to both services, encouraging those who may have been hesitant—women, older people, transgender individuals, and families—to make use of the essential support this centre provides.
The goal is to make the space as welcoming and attractive as possible for those who come for basic needs or to seeking a way out of very precarious situations. At the same time, there is also a desire to offer something inspiring and beautiful, for both the visitors and staff. The project will encompass the entire site, including the spaces of the Day Reception and the SAO, as well as the building’s façade.
