Working with people suffering from social exclusion and
living on the streets of CAYENNE

The issue of exclusion in Cayenne is multifaceted and complex. Recently-arrived illegal immigrants mix with people who are extremely excluded ; the latter are often addicted to crack and permanently live on the streets of Cayenne. This population of "outcasts" faces numerous complex problems (isolation from their families, psychological disturbances, recurring health problems, alcohol, crack, etc.).


Activities of the mobile assistance team
The mobile assistance team of samusocialîledeCayenne, made of a nurse, a social worker and a driver-interpreter, drives around the streets on Cayenne Island three evenings per week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays) aiming to contact people suffering from extreme exclusion. Occasionally, on a civic and voluntary bases, volunteers accompany the team in order to become better aware of the significant exclusion that exists on Cayenne Island.
When it makes its rounds, the team’s missions are:

  • to assess the health and psychosocial situation of people it meets in the street,

  • to provide these people with medical care where they live and to follow-up on their medical situation,

  • to assess their social situation,

  • to refer them to other structures according to their profile (hospitals, care centres specialised in drug-addiction, etc.).
In the daytime, the team follows up with some people met with during the night, thanks to a diagnostic established at the time of rounds. The team assists them in the steps they need to take, either by going with them or by directing them toward structures that are able to help them.
The team also plays a role of network manager, by meeting with the various partners involved in the fight against exclusion and by mobilising them concerning specific problems related to people living on the streets of Cayenne.


The team of samusocialîledeCayenne during a night cruise.
In Cayenne, many men completely excluded from society, live on the streets without any social or medical assistance.

Housing problems
The current housing structures on Cayenne Island cannot accommodate people met with during the rounds : the long admission process cannot cope with the social emergency situation on the streets, and social structures are sometimes reluctant to house people who have numerous problems.
samusocialîledeCayenne has therefore become involved in two projects:
  • the “night” project: Set up in May 2005, this flexible system is managed by samusocialîledeCayenne with the help of a network involved in the fight against social exclusion. Its goal is to offer a short-term solution to house people who are temporarily without accomodation, so that they can find a more sustainable solution. The purpose is to keep these people from being left on the streets due to a loss of lodging. It is a preventive measure against the exclusion process. Lodging in private homes is offered to single persons or to families with children for an 8-day period.

  • the project of a night-time and daytime centre: To deal with the lack of suitable housing for excluded people, samusocialîledeCayenne has decided to set up an emergency housing project, which is currently under development.