“The way this is being handled goes beyond the unhoused; it also concerns drug users, sex workers,” de Clerck mentioned, announcing it impacts the rest conflicting with “the ‘Emily in Paris’ postcard setting.”
The French housing and sports activities and Olympics ministries didn’t right away reply to POLITICO’s request for remark.
A neglected alternative
Paris’ bid to host the 2024 Olympics incorporated a promise to construct the development the “first ever inclusive and socially responsible games.”
“It would’ve been a great story to tell that the Olympic and Paralympic Games could be used as an opportunity to develop welfare and solidarity,” mentioned Léa Filoche, Paris’ deputy mayor for social affairs. “It could’ve, and still can be, the case — but there’s a lack of political will.”
Filoche claimed that the town of Paris, administered by way of a left-wing coalition, had introduced to give a contribution financially to arrange extremity housing, one thing normally treated on the nationwide degree. The do business in was once no longer accredited, she mentioned.
Now, the concern is to safeguard that Paris’ unhoused people can secure gaining access to people products and services all over the Video games, regardless of the obese safety equipment all set to be deployed, which is able to impede get admission to to many farmlands for non-ticket holders.
“For some of the unhoused population, especially undocumented immigrants, confrontation with police forces could end poorly,” the Parisian deputy mayor mentioned. “Some of the centers where they can shower, have access to medical resources, and receive legal aid might not be accessible. This is something we need to start communicating about now.”
“We’re trying to anticipate as much as possible so that an already vulnerable population won’t become collateral victims of a festive event,” Filoche mentioned.
