They had been alerting the public authorities for several weeks already. Faced with the silence of the state, migrant aid associations ended up taking the lead. On Saturday, they requisitioned a former nursery school in Rennes to house several families who had survived until now in makeshift camps, especially on municipal land in Les Gayeulles. Evacuated in the evening, the associations moderately tasted the intervention of the police, called by the socialist mayor Nathalie Appéré. “We wanted to show the town hall that there are places to shelter families,” sums up an activist. Their action, however, led to the gradual sheltering of most of the families who occupied the Gayeulles camp, sometimes for several months. In a press release, the municipality justified this evacuation, considering that the former Faux-Pont school “is not suitable for accommodation”, and recalling that it is “assigned to associations”.
After the evacuation, the prefecture and the city each drew their press release to recall the efforts made by their services. The State evokes “the shelter of 1,450 people in perennial devices or in the hotel”, that is to say a budgetary effort of “more than 10 million euros per year” for emergency accommodation in the department. Insufficient for the city, which accuses the State of failing in its duties. “The State selects the people it shelters, according to criteria of vulnerability and status,” denounces solidarity deputy David Travers. The city recalls that it accommodates 950 people every evening, leading a “voluntary and humanitarian action quite simply unique in France”.
Accountant explanations to justify a humanly unacceptable situation? Is that Justice and Courage? Ah OK. https://t.co/RJlQwPegyN
– Jeanne Larue (@RRennaise) October 17, 2021
This political will is recognized by the associations. “It does not exist elsewhere and it is true that it is not within its competence. But should we for all that close our eyes to the situation experienced by our families? », Asks Camille, volunteer of the association Un toit c’est un droit. This Monday, the young woman was at Les Gayeulles to dismantle the tents showered by the rain, overturned by the strong gale of October 2. “It couldn’t go on here anymore. We had babies who lived in deplorable conditions. Elected officials and decision-makers do not realize what they are living in, ”continues Camille. Rats had settled in, like mold in soggy tents. So, the volunteer chokes when we explain to her that the money is lacking to accommodate everyone. “It’s always a matter of money. But there are humans behind! “
Another reception site evacuated on Wednesday?
The 115 being already saturated, it was necessary to tinker with other solutions. Anything but simple, as the situations of migrants are so diverse. Some have been there for years, others are waiting for their asylum claims to be examined. The fear of associations is to see a new camp emerge in one, two or three weeks. Even on Wednesday, if the holiday center made available by the Eclaireurs de France was evacuated, for lack of “conformity”. More than 70 people from Africa or Eastern Europe live there, in conditions that are not always easy.
Faced with the arrival of a new gale and the cooling of temperatures, associations helping undocumented migrants hope that a gymnasium or a room will be made available to those who have not. nowhere to sleep. But who will accept to welcome them? And with what financial means? The debate is raging, including within the ranks of the metropolitan majority, as evidenced by some lively exchanges between left-wing elected officials on social networks.