8 o’clock strikes. Parents and children tumble at the entrances to the school group which has an elementary school and a kindergarten. According to the collective Alix Solidarity, 17 families are in a very precarious situation.

“About ten families are staying at the hotel, but at least four to five families sleep in tents“says Laura.”There are children of 4, 5, 9 … and situations of great suffering. A mom recently had a miscarriage, was hospitalized until midnight and the next morning the child was in class. It’s not acceptable.“

Solidarity, with the means at hand

On a table, the thermos of tea and coffee are out, the chocolate cakes sliced. The parents stop, talk, send a few pennies and bills into the piggy bank. Some are new to the neighborhood, the older ones take the time to explain. “On a permanent basis with volunteers who are there every morning to offer breakfast to the children. With the money collected we buy food, medicines, we pay hotel nights … We also collect clothes“, details Peggy.

Some families arrived this summer from Albania. In recent years, this nationality has been among the most represented among asylum seekers in France, fourth in 2019 behind Georgia, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. However, obtaining asylum is far from automatic, Albania being classified as a country “sure“by the French state.

According to the collective, the majority of refugee families are on the waiting list for House of Social Watch (MVS). Parents hope at least to obtain hotel nights for lack of a place in a more suitable accommodation center.

“Some winters, families have slept outside in -4 degrees. It’s not human“, adds Peggy. A letter was approached to the City of Lyon and to the prefecture to find solutions.

This October morning in front of the school, the director came to see the parents, some teachers were also mobilized.An online jackpot is still active for donations.