Coronavirus in France: a sports center requisitioned in Malakoff for the homeless

Text by: Romain Lemaresquier Follow

The confinement imposed in France for more than seven weeks now is particularly complicated for homeless people (homeless). In Malakoff, a small locality on the outskirts of Paris, the Hauts-de-Seine prefecture requisitioned a sports center to shelter part of this population during an epidemic. Reportage.

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About twenty homeless people live together in this sports center managed by the Alteralia association since the start of confinement. Beds, showers, canteen and a little space for people who until now were on the street like Mamadou, who arrived from Guinea Conakry at the beginning of March.

"  I arrived in Paris on the 7th, I asked for asylum and I found myself on the street," he says. In the meantime I met someone who said to me  : "But since you have nowhere to sleep, there is a number that is called which takes care of homeless people. The 115". I called 115, they answered me and sent me to Malakoff. "

► Read also: Coronavirus in France: the impossible situation of the homeless

Sleeping warm, being fed, being able to shower, these are far from trivial acts for people used to sleeping on the macadam. It is also thanks to the animator in charge of this center that they have morale.

"  I learned a bit on the job," says Mélodie, 23, who discovered the trade during confinement. But honestly it's going well, the residents are very good. They make my life a lot easier. It's a great experience and I find that it changes the vision of things.  "

For his part, Ayup, a 32-year-old Franco-Moroccan, believes that this is a parenthesis in his daily hassle. "  Here it's magnificent, it's great, because we live in harmony, there are all nationalities," he rejoices. We have space for sports, entertainment . "

Ayup and the rest of the boarders now fear deconfinement which, for them, rhymes with returning to the street.

► Read also: Coronavirus: food distribution is organized in Paris, associations under pressure

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