The non-profit sector is full of all kinds of acronyms. It’s not easy to navigate through all these abbreviations! Today, we invite you to learn about the CCAS.
What is the CCAS?
Within municipalities, there is a public institution whose role is to help people in need. This is the CCAS, or Municipal Center for Social Action. It is the primary tool used by municipalities to implement solidarity systems and organize necessary assistance for local residents. It manages the allocation of statutory social aid, which involves processing applications and providing discretionary aid (micro-loans, food assistance, etc.). It ensures that aid is easily accessible, works to combat all forms of exclusion at the local level, and supports vulnerable populations.
What are its missions?
Its mission is simple: to ensure that everyone can access and benefit from the aid they are entitled to. These aids can be divided into two categories: aid to combat exclusion and support for the elderly.
Aid to combat exclusion:
- Social (or personal) micro-loans : this is a zero-interest loan. It is available to people who are excluded from the traditional banking system. Depending on the situation and eligibility, the amount ranges from 300 to 8,000 euros.
- Food assistance : the CCAS provides access to free food for individuals in severe financial distress.
- Personalized support vouchers : they are also reserved for people in great difficulty. They take the form of vouchers worth €10 to €30 that can be used for food, hygiene products, clothing, and more.
- Emergency aid : these are one-off financial grants, in the form of non-repayable loans intended to address emergency situations. To receive aid from the CCAS, you must be able to demonstrate difficulty in covering basic necessities (food, electricity, heating, etc.).
- Domiciliation requests : Almost all administrative procedures and aid applications require a postal address (aid is paid into a bank account, which you can only open with an ID that requires proof of address). The CCAS allows homeless individuals to obtain an official address, which is essential for receiving benefits.
Assistance and support for the elderly:
- Basic allowance : this aid is granted to people over 65 who do not receive a pension or have insufficient income to cover the costs of home help. It is provided in the form of financial or material support.
- Home help : to qualify for this assistance there are conditions to be met (age and resources). The amount depends on income.
- Home meal delivery : this is available to people over 65 who have difficulty shopping or cooking and have limited resources. It involves the delivery of hot meals to the home by a partner company, or requires visiting a community dining hall if the beneficiary's mobility allows.
What is the difference between the CCAS, CIAS, and UNCASS?
- The CCAS : Municipal Center forSocial Action.
- The CIAS : Intercommunal Center forSocial Action Social: when several small municipalities join forces to create a single center.
- The UNCCAS : National Union of Municipal SocialAction Centers: it federates, structures, and advocates for the various CCAS across France.
Source:
*Aide-sociale.fr
**UNCCAS
