The label

What if tomorrow you were poor? No one thinks about it, but it affects everyone. Divorce, job loss, bereavement... precariousness always strikes unexpectedly and in all walks of life, even those we thought were untouchable.

Have you ever been afraid? Afraid of losing your job; afraid of not being able to pay your rent, health insurance or electricity bills? Afraid of falling into poverty one day and never being able to get back on your feet. There are a thousand and one accidents in life. But they all have the power to shake us. The question is when.

Asking for financial assistance from your local authority is never easy and can sometimes feel like an obstacle course. How do you find the right online form? Who should you approach to get the right information, and how can you build trust with the person who will be helping you?

We spend it freely or we guard it jealously. Money is the lifeblood of everyone. It is also a source of stress, especially if you don't have enough. While money doesn't buy happiness, it's hard to do without it. So when life gets in the way and you can no longer make ends meet, some people have no choice but to ask for help.

What a joy it is to be free; to have the means to do nothing. A luxury, unless you are a rentier or... on social assistance. In people's minds, receiving state assistance means that you are guaranteed to be paid for everything and do nothing. Really?

It seems that work defines us. At the very least, it gives us a place in society and helps us form social bonds. But what happens when we don't have a job? And how can we return to work after spending a significant amount of time on social assistance?

Are you a homeowner, tenant or flatmate? Even if you have a salary and no debts, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find decent accommodation in Switzerland, particularly in Geneva. So if your budget is limited because you are on social assistance, finding a place to live can be even more complicated.

In the canton of Geneva, nearly 13% of social assistance recipients are between the ages of 18 and 25. How can this worrying phenomenon be explained? Lack of qualifications, difficult family circumstances, an increasingly competitive job market... precariousness is sometimes passed down from generation to generation.

What impact does financial insecurity have on our social ties? How does a lack of money further exacerbate the isolation of people on social assistance? When every penny counts, it is difficult to go away for the weekend, go out for a drink with friends, eat at a restaurant or buy gifts for loved ones.

Inflation, rising consumer prices, increasing rents, skyrocketing health insurance premiums and energy costs... what were once considered strokes of bad luck are now turning into crushing blows for Switzerland's lower middle class. What happens when working is no longer enough to live decently and you may have to turn to social assistance?