Paris busing out thousands of homeless people ahead of Olympic Games

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON PROMISES THE OLYMPICS WILL SHOWCASE THE SPLENDOR OF PARIS.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT– THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT REPORTEDLY WANTS TO KEEP PARIS’ HOMELESS OUT OF THE VIEW– DESPITE THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE BEING LOCATED IN ONE OF THE CITY’S POOREST SUBURBS.

THEIR SOLUTION?

BUSING THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS MIGRANTS OUT OF THE CITY AND INTO OTHER FRENCH TOWNS AHEAD THE GAMES.

AROUND FIVE-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOVED OVER THE PAST YEAR.

MACRON’S ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE PROGRAM IS VOLUNTARY AND DENIES IT’S CONNECTED TO THE OLYMPICS.

PARIS IS DEALING WITH AN EMERGENCY HOUSING SHORTAGE AS ITS HOMELESS POPULATION SITS AT 100-THOUSAND. 

BUT A PARIS OFFICIAL SEEMED TO CONTRADICT MACRON’S ASSERTION. TELLING A FRENCH NEWSPAPER THE GOAL IS TO “IDENTIFY PEOPLE ON THE STREET IN SITES NEAR OLYMPIC VENUES” AND REMOVE THEM BEFORE THE GAMES.

POLICE RAIDS ON HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND ABANDONED BUILDINGS STARTED TO INCREASE LAST YEAR.

THE CITY SAYS IT RELOCATES THE HOMELESS AND PROVIDES THEM WITH HOUSING IN OTHER CITIES.

HOWEVER, MANY SAY THEY WERE LURED INTO THE PROGRAM WITH THOSE PROMISES ONLY TO FIND OUT THEY WERE STUCK LIVING ON THE STREETS IN THEIR NEW CITIES OR SELECTED FOR DEPORTATION.

OTHERS SAID THEY NEVER KNEW THE PROGRAM WAS VOLUNTARY CONSIDERING THEY WERE SURROUNDED BY POLICE OFFICERS WHEN THE SO-CALLED OFFER TO MOVE WAS PRESENTED.

AFTER ARRIVING IN NEW CITIES– THE HOMELESS LIVE IN SHELTERS FOR A FEW WEEKS AND ARE SCREENED FOR ASYLUM BUT SEVERAL HAVE RECEIVED DEPORTATION ORDERS.

THOSE ELIGIBLE CAN RECEIVE LONG-TERM HOUSING DURING THE ASYLUM APPLICATION PROCESS BUT AROUND 60 PERCENT OF PEOPLE ARE DENIED.

THE CHANCE OF DEPORTATION HAS LAWYERS ADVISING PEOPLE NOT TO GET ON THE BUSES INSTEAD TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES ON THE STREETS.

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