Communiqué de presse   MdM France’s tent campaign provokes French government action on homeless

This operation, designed to highlight the dramatic lack of emergency housing and call on the government to provide lasting solutions adapted to the needs of homeless people, has been the subject of much debate in France.

The French Minister for Social Cohesion and Equality, Ms Vautrin, commissioned a report from Ms Agnes de Fleurieu with the aim of evaluating emergency housing and working with Médecins du Monde to end the distribution of tents. Following the submission of this report on 9 August 2006, proposals were announced to create new emergency housing provisions.

The Médecins du Monde team met Ms de Fleurieu on three occasions and welcomed the opportunity to have its views listened to. Ms. de Fleurieu emphasised that it was important to focus on the lack of, and unsuitability of, emergency housing that is at the heart of the current debate surrounding the tents.

Therefore the proposal, to create emergency housing with 24-hour access and no maximum length of stay, is a step in the right direction. Since MdM began its activities with the homeless in 1993 and throughout its recent tent campaign, Médecins du Monde has continued to advocate long-lasting solutions adapted to the needs of homeless people.

Without forcing anyone to return to the streets, MdM proposes a social solution that represents a real opportunity for the homeless to escape the poverty trap. The positive feedback from those people re-housed in the last few days proves that by adapting to the needs of the homeless, solutions can be found that allow them to escape living in tents and on the streets.

Médecins du Monde therefore welcomes the long-awaited recognition of this issue. Nevertheless, MdM wishes to emphasise two points:

• These measures must be in place before winter: past short-term emergency solutions introduced only when the cold weather arrives should be avoided.
• This is an emergency at a national level and it is necessary to tackle the problem throughout France. We know that hundreds of people are at risk of homelessness due to a lack of money. Our 15 teams working among the homeless are daily witnesses to the lack of and unsuitability of housing.

Médecins du Monde asks that clear and precise information is provided to people living on the streets so they know where to access this new provision of housing. Finally, Médecins du Monde will remain vigilant so that no one is forced to leave their tent without alternative housing offered to them.