Cold wave: in the Yvelines, "hundreds of families already sheltered"

While the snow has arrived in the Yvelines, the prefecture activated its winter plan on Tuesday.

The temperatures announced by Météo France for the next few days are very low: from -10 ° C to -12 ° C in the morning in perceived temperatures.

Despite freezing weather this winter, the prefecture will not significantly increase the number of emergency accommodation.

The reason: at the request of the Minister of Housing Emmanuelle Wargon, the prefects opened more accommodation places from November, at the time of the reconfinement.

Faced with the circulation of Covid-19, they were asked to "find a solution for each person".

“Hundreds of families and single women have already been sheltered for several months,” confirms Raphaël Sodini, prefect delegate for equal opportunities.

In addition to the 2,900 places distributed in emergency accommodation centers in Yvelines throughout the year, 450 units were opened during the winter period.

“For the moment,” he explains, “we don't have any major additional accommodation needs.

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"Two thirds of the homeless that we saw are no longer there"

As for accommodation in hotels, 1,076 people have found a home in the department.

"Usually, we have 717 places but here we have created 359 more places because of the health context", specifies Angélique Khaled, departmental director of social cohesion.

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If families and single women have been sheltered, there are marginalized people who do not wish to be taken care of.

The Versailles stopover has thus increased its capacity for isolated men who refuse to go to emergency accommodation.

This accommodates up to thirty people 24 hours a day, instead of the usual twenty.

A trend confirmed by Hervé de Goësbriand.

The departmental delegate of the Order of Malta sees fewer people homeless than in previous winters.

On the Versailles maraud alone, "two thirds of the homeless that we saw are no longer there".

No reinforcement of marauding

For him, these people, mainly families and single women, have benefited from the system put in place by the department since November.

"Last year, the prefecture asked us to step up actions throughout the country, but so far this year, we have not received any indications," he explains.

The temperatures felt could drop below -10 ° C.

LP / JC  

Faced with the drop in the number of people sleeping in the street, the association has not stepped up its marauding.

The volunteers travel three times a week to Versailles and the surrounding towns and once again to the Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Achères sector.

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In addition to hot drinks, since the temperatures drop, blanket kits and sleeping bags are being distributed.

Actions also carried out by the Red Cross and civil protection which crisscross the entire Yvelines department.

“In general, our friends in the street receive donations from passers-by during the day,” underlines Hervé de Goësbriand.

During our marauding in the evening we rather bring them hot drinks.

They are not necessarily hungry, they especially need contacts.

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