- In its annual report released this Thursday, the Abbé-Pierre Foundation emphasizes the situation of single people facing poor housing. Because not having a family is an aggravating factor in cases of great insecurity.
- The personal story of Jean-Michel, 60, who found himself on the street last August, attests to this.
- He is currently fighting for a room in a shelter and social reintegration center.
Every day is a struggle for Jean-Michel. A struggle to continue to maintain a dignified appearance, not to be cut off from the world and to perceive the slightest ray of sunshine in the greyness. Because since August, it has come to increase the number of homeless people.
A life accident that he would never have imagined a few years ago. "I am a fighter. And when we find ourselves on the street at 60, we no longer want to live. What did I do to deserve this? », He asks, knowing that his question needs no answer.
"One day my roommates kicked me out of the apartment"
According to the Abbé-Pierre Foundation report released on Thursday, single people represent 65% of the homeless in France. Because not having a family is an aggravating factor in cases of poor housing.
"I had a busy life and I have always worked since I was 16," he says. But in 2016, while he was serving as a waiter, Jean-Michel lost his job, his boss having decided to sell his restaurant. "I looked for work, but I was found too old to hire me," he explains. With no income, he soon reaches the RSA and lives in a shared flat: "But one day, my roommates kicked me out of the apartment and since my name did not appear on the lease, I could not fight", says T -he.
“The homeless, they can die. We are out of society
A descent into hell. Jean-Michel finds himself on the street in the middle of summer. “I slept at Robinson Park in Asnières for several months. But when it started to get cold, I decided to squat a building under construction in Clichy. The workers who worked there let me do it, because they could see that I was not the bum with his bottle, ”he explains.
A makeshift shelter which he content himself with as best he can. But one night, Jean-Michel is attacked by three homeless people. "I was afraid for my life. The police dissuaded me from filing a complaint. The homeless, they can die. We're downright out of society, ”he gets angry. And some days, Jean-Michel has dark ideas. "There is something to freak out. I often wanted to throw myself off the bridge of Asnières so as not to get bored any more, ”he explains.
"When you don't have a roof, it's not easy to know who to turn to"
Fortunately, a few hands reached out to him. That of a social worker and that of social workers in the Solidarity Shop of the Abbé-Pierre de Gennevilliers Foundation. “They found me a place in an emergency shelter. It's better than nothing. And I come every morning to the Solidarity Boutique to wash, wash my clothes, have a hot meal. ” Material aid which is also accompanied by support in his efforts. "I don't even know if I will soon be entitled to a pension," he said.
But what Jean-Michel seems to suffer the most from is loneliness. “When you don't have a roof, it's not easy to know where to turn. And I have no family, ”he says. Some friends have turned away from him. To others, he spoke only half-word about his situation, out of shame. "But I still have a couple of friends who sometimes help me. At Christmas, they sent me 250 euros. But there is no question of asking them to accommodate me, they have their lives. I also have a friend whom I help and support as much as she can. ”
"I don't want to take advantage of the system, it's not my style"
At the Abbé-Pierre Foundation's Solidarity Boutique, we are fighting to offer Jean-Michel the hope of better days. A place in a accommodation and social reintegration center ( CHRS) could be allocated to him by April.
A perspective to which Jean-Michel refuses to relate. "I'm too afraid of being disappointed," he explains. If he obtains it, a monthly financial contribution for his accommodation and maintenance costs will be requested. “It's fine, even if I had to leave half of my RSA there. Because I don't want to take advantage of the system, it's not my style ”.
Society
Poor housing: "I live here in 9m² with my husband and five children"
Society
Inequalities: "We are the opposite of the solidarity society advocated by Abbé Pierre", considers Christophe Robert
- Poverty
- Abbe pierre foundation
- Bad housing
- Paris
- Testimony
- Social