January 14, 2021, Souleymane and Pierre-Yves Laec, in the premises of Nobilito in Nantes -

J. Urbach / 20 Minutes

  • A Nantes business manager gives the keys to his offices to a homeless person.

  • His association, the Bureaux du coeur, is looking for other volunteer leaders to increase the initiative.

“I was on the street and here I am.

It's a bit special, but it's a rare chance to rebuild myself… ”For a few months now, Souleymane has finally found a smile.

This 38-year-old man, who became homeless after a "family problem", no longer has to walk the streets of Nantes to look for a place to sleep in a warm place.

Since October, he has found refuge in the opulent premises of the communication agency Nobilito, located on the island of Nantes.

The boss, Pierre-Yves Loaëc, gave him a duplicate of the keys.

Every evening, Souleymane finds her sofa there, lodged at the end of a small corridor located on the ground floor, just next to the small kitchen and WC.

This is the principle of Bureaux du Coeur, an association launched by this Nantes business manager.

“The objective is to provide a small space free of charge suitable for welcoming a homeless person,” explains Pierre-Yves Loaëc.

All you need is a sofa or a nap, a lockable cupboard, ideally a shower and a microwave… ”In the premises of Nobilito, the“ guest ”, as he is called, also has a fridge, a small kettle, a Wi-Fi connection and an overhead projector for watching films, in the meeting room.

"I feel like at home, even if the atmosphere is a little weird on the weekends," Souleymane smiles.

I am not allowed to invite people, but everything that is offered to me here is already more than enough.

It must be said that I am not someone invasive!

"

January 14, 2021. Souleymane is accommodated free of charge in the Nobilito offices in Nantes - J. Urbach / 20 Minutes

"Have a coffee, create links"

Because the beneficiaries naturally have rules to respect, which appear in the tripartite contract signed with the company that hosts them and the association that made the link.

The first concerns the schedules: “During the week, we ask them to be ready for 8:30 am and to return at the end of the day around 5:30 pm to 6 pm, details Pierre-Yves Loaëc.

We meet them in the morning and in the evening, which makes it possible to have a coffee, to create links.

Souleymane, who is looking for a carpentry job, for example was able to benefit from the advice of an employee to update her CV.

According to Pierre-Yves Loaëc, who "easily lifted the legal and insurance brakes" so that this reception is done in the rules, around fifteen business leaders are now volunteering to house a homeless person, a few days to a maximum of six months.

But supply and demand are still struggling to meet, while the initiative is aimed at a certain type of public, people "in reintegration", "students in great precariousness" or "women in a situation of hardship. emergency ”.

To expand its network, it launches an appeal to interested leaders, throughout the Loire-Atlantique department and elsewhere in France, while a coordinator will be appointed to grow the association of Heart Offices.

"We could say to ourselves that it is enough to write a check to help," says the leader of Nobilito.

But we would be depriving ourselves of a real human adventure.

All these meetings, we would not have had them otherwise.

"

Society

Nantes: A student accommodated for free against time spent with her senior neighbors

Nantes

Nantes: Grandparents for children who do not have them, thanks to the association Manou Partages

  • Homeless

  • Emergency accommodation

  • Solidarity

  • Society

  • Nantes