“Avoiding neighborhood disturbances”: a mobile team will intervene with tenants suffering from mental health problems in Montpellier

Une unité mobile pour intervenir au domicile des personnes souffrant de problèmes de santé mentale. illustration Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Ce dispositif d’accompagnement de locataires fragiles dans les logements sociaux de la métropole de Montpellier a été présenté lors du 84e Congrès HLM sur le stand d’Altémed ce mercredi 25 septembre. Explications.

"Making mental health the major cause of the year 2025". Altémed did not wait for the announcement made on Sunday evening on the France 2 news by Prime Minister Michel Barnier to innovate in this area. The group, which brings together ACM, Serm and SA3M, officially launched its support system for tenants with mental health problems on Wednesday, September 25, at its stand at the HLM Congress.

A mobile team of three people

At the origin of the project, Baptiste Meneghin, an employee in the innovation department of Altémed, explained that a team of three professionals – a social worker, a nurse and a peer worker – was currently being recruited. The Association de la Vallée de l’Hérault, which won the contract after a call for tenders, will be operational within a couple of months. What will their concrete action be? ? “They will intervene in the homes of tenants at the request of ACM. The idea is to act in prevention to avoid neighborhood disturbances or unpaid rents, for example.“

Increase in reports from neighbors

This system, already tested in Paris, Dijon and Bordeaux, has become essential after Covid in the face of the increase in reports and incidents.“Tenants were better able to identify isolated people whose behavior was inappropriate during Covid, specifies Baptiste Meneghin. We had no answers to give them." The presence of a "peer worker", who has himself experienced mental health problems before stabilizing, is crucial to establishing a dialogue with the target audience.

A first in Hérault

This system is financed by the State, the ARS and local authorities for an amount of 165,000 € per year, or nearly €1 million over five years. Elodie Brun-Mandon, deputy delegate for health in Montpellier, highlighted “this desire to work together” and praised the format of the mobile unit “which allows us to move towards”. “Montpellier will show the value of investing in mental health.” Simon Barbeirio, representing the Regional Health Agency, believes in it: “It's a first in Hérault. We're going to do everything we can to get a top-notch assessment.” Carole Davila, head of the social inclusion and housing division, assures us: “If the unit proves itself, the system will be rolled out to other landlords and in other areas.”