Social programs

This section presents the main social services offered to residents of the archipelago.

The Service du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle manages most employment-related programs. Once a person becomes unemployed, he/she can register as a "job seeker" and receive financial assistance from the state. Job seekers are entitled to receive funding to participate in training or a practicum related to their field. The employment service also offers a literacy program, assistance for people with disabilities, and a job search monitoring service.

The Caisse de Prévoyance Sociale de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon offers allowances for childcare, assistance for heating costs for seniors, assistance for the long-term ill and subsidizes certain organizations. For example, the Centre communal d'action sociale de Saint-Pierre helps citizens obtain social assistance when needed. A day care service (called "crèche" [day nursery]) is offered to families. This service includes a nurse, a teacher, an assistant teacher, an aide and the administrative staff. Saint-Pierre and Miquelon also has a social housing system. Currently, approximately 2% of the archipelago's inhabitants benefit from this system. For youth, the archipelago has a youth centre and a service that coordinates vacation camps (called "centres aérés" [outdoor centres]). Activities are organized for several age groups and are adapted to their personal and social development.

The Gendarmerie de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon includes administrative and judicial police services. The administrative police service monitors traffic, ensures general supervision of harbours and airports, maintains the peace and patrols the coast. The judicial police service is in charge of various types of crimes and offences such as break-ins, theft and economic and financial offences.