The Observatory of the Paris Samusocial’s mission is to identify and analyze the issues faced by people in social vulnerability. Its research on populations, modes of care, and public action are facilitated by access to fieldwork and data from the activities of the Paris Samusocial. However, it is not restricted to the limits of the institution.

Indeed, studies aim to contribute to the overall development of knowledge about homelessness, but also to improve the care of people, and to the adaptation and evaluation of public policies to fight against exclusion.

The Observatory must find the funds necessary for its functioning and the implementation of its research program. Its funding in 2009 was based on the allocation of staff from other institutions, on the one hand, and on grants from government agencies and private sector, on the other hand.

BRIEF HYSTORY

The Observatory was created en April 1998 by Dr Xavier Emmanuelli.

With little resources at the beginning, the Observatory participated in developing the information system for various Paris Samusocial’s activities (115, outreach team, medical consultations, etc.), and treated the data. In the same time, research teams were solicited to implement studies in epidemiology or social sciences, thanks to private funding. 

The Observatory’s researches were presented during annual meetings to funding, organizational and institutional Samusocial’s partners.

Fall 2002, the head of the Observatory changed. New development axes were defined. First, the team enhanced his formation, gets data analysis tools, and was expanded by students. Second, his operational role in implementing epidemiologic or social science studies was giving priority to administrative role (funding).

This operational role is essential to have a real place in the social exclusion research field, by producing validated analysis and their publication in scientific reviews. This position also make easier the elaboration and diffusion process of recommendations.

2010 WORKING PROGRAMM

Social and health observation of precariousness is defined as the permanent collection of information and the implementation of studies on targeted populations, on public devices and on public policies efficiency. This in the objective of putting in light phenomenon, of being a decision and management tool, and permitting to analyse, adapt and change professional practices.

For social observation among populations, 2010 projects aimed to the description and changes of 115 user profiles and of outreach team of the Paris samusocial, as well as the time they use the services. Populations studied will be persons alone and particularly families. These ones will be studied in the context of a specific survey at the Paris regional level, while alone persons will be studied by the mean of the Paris 115 data base.

Health observation in 2010 will be based on the one hand to the pursuance of analysis of data collected in the study on addictions and mental health among Paris region homeless (Samenta) in the aim of scientific publications and book editing, and on the other hand, the implementation of a study on personal hygiene and its impact on health (parasitic dermatoses and foot related problems).