Seine-Saint-Denis: 17% of inhabitants live on less than 885 euros per month

This is an additional argument for all those who demand an urgent increase in State resources for Seine-Saint-Denis to fight against territorial inequalities.

The report on poverty in France, made public this Thursday evening by the Observatory of Inequalities, ranks seven municipalities of the department among the twenty poorest in France, even if it is Grigny (Essonne) which occupies the first regional place.

In Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois or La Courneuve, more than four in ten inhabitants must live, each month, on less than 885 euros per month, an amount which corresponds to half of a median salary in France.

And which is well below the poverty line, set at 1,063 euros by INSEE.

By way of comparison, only 5% of the inhabitants of Chesnay (Yvelines), Gif-sur-Yvette (Essonne), or 6% of the population of Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine), are in their situation.

In Ile-de-France, the observatory also notes “the coexistence of very poor towns, and others that are spared […]”.

"In the same department, two nearby towns can display poverty rates ranging from one to ten," notes the observatory.

On the whole of the department, Seine-Saint-Denis is also the one with the highest rate of poor people (17.5%) in mainland France.

This represents 280,000 inhabitants, without taking into account the people who live in camps, on the streets or in slums, and who escape statistical radars.

The effects of the Covid crisis difficult to measure

The data in the report cannot yet measure most of the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, which is expected to hit these populations hard.

"This crisis, it strikes the weakest, but those who were already in a very delicate situation, who had no job, will not necessarily be the most severely affected", tempers Louis Maurin, director of the Observatory. some inequalities.

He warns of the difference between short-term effects, versus others that won't be felt until next year.

“There are also differences between sectors,” he continues.

The civil service continued to be paid, the unemployed received their benefits.

On the other hand, in hotels and restaurants, for example, the repercussions were more significant.

From mid-March, the crisis massively hit the precarious, the CDD, the temporary workers, he continues.

But the economic repercussions over time are made through social plans and layoffs, which are still very difficult to measure today.

"

New faces of poverty

The increase in the number of RSA applicants, which would approach 10% nationally, can it already be an indication?

“This represents 200,000 more households in France, or around 340,000 additional people,” replies Louis Maurin.

But a part was already poor before, because the RSA is very clearly below the poverty line.

What we will note are downgrades, people who will go down a notch yet.

The observatory also considers that some residents will experience large losses of income without necessarily falling below the poverty line.

Food distribution in Clichy-sous-Bois, Wednesday April 15, 2020. LP / Gwenael Bourdon  

The report also highlights these new faces of poverty, often younger.

An evolution that has not escaped the Restos du Cœur 93, which saw registrations explode for this winter campaign, with + 25 to + 50% depending on the centers.

“And now, more than half of people are under 25,” explains departmental director Jean-Claude Eberhardt.

There are students, young adults who still live with their parents… ”

Seine-Saint-Denis newsletter

Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le Parisien

I'm registering

Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to enable you to receive our news and commercial offers.

Learn more

However, he considers that the explosion in demand was “foreseeable.

"" Especially with the catering trades which are at a standstill.

"Faced with the influx, the association is looking for new volunteers and calls for goodwill:" This would allow us to expand our opening hours to distribute the load ... "

"Isolation reinforces extreme poverty"

In Aubervilliers, the municipal councilor (PCF), Anthony Daguet (PCF) has seen the situation deteriorate markedly in recent months.

“Again this morning

I counted at least five people doing the round, he explains.

And on Saturdays, there are about ten, where previously we only saw one or two.

We see new faces.

"

How to fight against poverty at the local level?

The former 1st deputy noted the very important contribution of solidarity associations in the city.

"The problem is that the confinement period prohibits meetings, gatherings, and therefore some of these associations have lost the link with beneficiaries who were further away, who would need contact for access to the law, to administrative assistance… People whose isolation reinforces the situation of extreme poverty.

"

Training and education, key factors for action

The new mayor (UDI) of Aubervilliers, Karine Franclet, was not surprised by the figures in the report.

“It is a city that has missed the development train, even though it has incredible potential…” blows the city councilor, who sees education as one of the levers to fight poverty in the long term.

"The report shows that many people who are below the poverty line have, at most, the baccalaureate", observes the one who intends to strengthen the offer of extracurricular and put in place "real support, from primary school. to avoid the delay accumulating ”.

It also insists on support towards employment, in a sector which has a large number of large company headquarters and training opportunities… “Tomorrow, the influence of the territory must benefit the young people of Aubervilliers via the Condorcet campus. or the business and fashion campus project, for example, which I will tirelessly defend… ”