Asylum seekers welcomed in a new location south of Caen
Through Christophe Jacquet
Published on
The new reception center for asylum seekers opened its doors a little earlier than expected this Thursday, December 30, 2021 at Saint-Martin-de-Fontenay, South of Caen (Calvados). The first refugees integrated their studios in the old retirement home at La Chênaie. Unoccupied since April 2016, it was started reconverted, after work in October, in emergency accommodation for asylum seekers (HUDA).
Ultimately, the two wings of the building nestled in a quiet subdivision house up to 50 people. They will be spread over 34 accommodation units, ranging from studios for single women or men, to shared bathrooms in the hallway, to apartments for families with 3 or even 4 children, with a private bathroom.
A temporary home, for a maximum of 18 months
For the moment, 10 asylum seekers have arrived here from La Charité, the home for the homeless which closes its doors on December 31, after 9 years of mission at La Guérinière, in Caen. With all their lives in backpacks and shopping bags, 6 single women and two couples, including one from Syria, really close to seeing the birth of her 1uh child, discovered and took possession of their new refuge.
This morning, Pienda, 35, was the first to settle. In France since November 2017, the native of Mauritania has a sick foreign residence permit. While she is putting her things and provisions in the small fridge, a neighbor from La Charité comes to greet her. Originally from Guinea, Fanta, 26, managed to get out of Egypt, despite the fate reserved for African migrants there. She has been in France for “1 year and 7 months”. The other arrivals of the day in Saint-Martin de-Fontenay-du Congo, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal.
All are sheltered there “temporarily”, recalls Christine Aloui, referent municipal councilor of the reception system, in connection with the prefecture of Calvados. The place could experience “a permanent turnover” of asylum seekers. “Depending on the progress of their case,” their instruction time, they can stay here “a maximum of 18 months”, according to Thomas Geai, one of the 15 social workers who supervise them there.
Support and management provided by Un Toit pour Tous
These will provide “comprehensive social support, at different stages” to asylum seekers. “Some are only at the request of the residence permit. Most have to defend their cases before the French office for the protection of refugees and stateless persons (OFPRA). “We help them prepare for the hearing,” says Thomas Geai.
“They remain people with unique backgrounds. It is not easy for them to present them in front of strangers.”
Social workers also ensure their assimilation, teaching them the springs of “daily life” and the different standards in Europe.
This social support on site is one of the missions allocated to the private landlord, SARL Un Toit pour Tous, owner of the premises. With Erwan Laborie’s group, it was this company, wrongly presented as an association by the municipality and the prefecture, which, in 2016, removed the public market for the accommodation of the homeless in Calvados.
According to the Norman investigative media Le Poulpe, the State would pay each year to these two companies nearly € 3 million for them to deliver “500 places intended for a very precarious public”.
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