They are now nearly 500 young people sleeping on site, in this disused school, rue Erlanger in Paris. Without electricity, without water, with six toilets in all and not a single shower, “a situation of humanitarian crisis in the middle of the 16th arrondissement”, for what has become “the biggest squat in France” in the words of Nikolai Posner, responsible to Utopia56, the association which mainly manages the fate of these young isolated foreigners. Soon, they will be fixed on their fate, because a hearing has been set for June 12, which must decide on their expulsion, then on a possible permanent shelter.
These young people have been squatting in the building for more than two months now, without the state reacting. The City of Paris, which also has the powers of the department, welcomes all young people who have been recognized as minors, but for those who, like them, are in the process of appealing to the judge, after their status as a minor has been rejected, it is there is “no specific structure”, explains Ian Brossat, the deputy mayor of Paris in charge of housing, who says he is “ready to work with the State” on the question.
Tense situation around
The mayor of Paris was promised shelter, if and only if it went to court and the young people were expelled. A way of doing things that irritates the housing assistant, just like the Utopia 56 association. “The prefecture does not need to wait for these people to be evicted to put them in shelter”, explains Ian Brossat. “We have the impression that they are waiting for there to be a tragedy that can fall on the young people or the associations that accompany them. This leaves room for rising xenophobia, this school has become the target of far-right media,” says Nikolai Posner
Despite the presence of four associations and seven employees of Utopia 56 on site, the situation has become increasingly tense, in the words of its manager: “There are some young people with a very complicated psychological state, this has an impact on other young people. In mid-May, a demonstration organized by an extreme right-wing movement complicated the situation, forcing associations to organize night watches to protect themselves. Young people are no longer welcomed by the association during the day, except for the sickest. Some go to medical appointments, others take French lessons, go to day centers, or simply on the street. One meal a day is served by the association La Chorba, financed by the City of Paris, which has also installed the sanitary facilities.
The State challenged by Parisian elected officials
Worried about security and judging their “conditions unworthy of a major European capital”, the environmental group, through the voice of Nour Durand-Raucher, questioned the prefect of police this Wednesday, during current affairs questions from the Council of Paris , as well as Ian Brossat. The housing assistant pointed to “methods of intimidation, harassment and violence that have no place in our republic. “This situation is obviously known” to us and from a security point of view we have decided to reinforce rounds and patrols” replied Laurent Nunez, without commenting on sheltering, which is the responsibility of the prefect of region, Marc Guillaume.
The latter was arrested Monday evening by a wish of the executive, taking up a proposal from environmentalists. “The care of these young people is part of the obligations of the State”, recalled this Wednesday Nour Durand-Raucher. “The vast majority of minors who have appealed are ultimately recognized as minors, they are legally on the territory, the prefecture must protect them and shelter them in permanent accommodation”, added Laurent Sorel, adviser to Paris member of LFI.
If sheltering is indeed “on track”, as confirmed by Ian Brossat, the fear of young people relayed by associations is now that they are offered accommodation far from the place where they began their administrative procedures. . Currently, many migrants are sent out of Ile-de-France, in a logic of cleaning up the Ile-de-France territory before the 2024 Olympics. In the meantime, the associations on the spot are walking with bits of string. And Nikolai Posner to cross his fingers: “We hope to be able to hold out until the end, but we are not sure. »