In Toulouse, “Les piafs de la rue” fly to the aid of the homeless
Their name is “Les piafs de la rue”. Throughout the year, they walk the streets of Toulouse to help the homeless. Their objective: to meet the needs of homeless people by distributing food and clothing to them.
Youth serving the homeless
It was three years ago, in November 2019, that the association was created on the initiative of two Toulouse students: Alicia Ambroise and Mateo Lair. Very quickly, several members joined the cause. “Currently, we have a hard core of around ten people who mobilize every week in favor of the homeless”, says Léo Molinié, 26, a member since the genesis of the collective.
At first, I was curious to know how it was going. I wanted to help these people outside because too many people ignore them, no one looks at them and talks to them. It is above all this loneliness that pains me.”
Like him, it is mostly young adults and students who give their time to help homeless people in Toulouse. For good reason, the association is active on social networks. “We still notice for a few months that there are more and more people who are a little older who join us”, nuance Léo. Indeed, the association seeks to open its circle of volunteers, and all profiles are welcome.
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Every Monday evening
Thus, every Monday evening, volunteers roam the streets of Toulouse as part of marauding. “We distribute food and clothes,” says Leo. They are essentially donations from individuals who have contacted the association on the internet. For food, in addition to donations, volunteers collect food in front of the supermarket. “It’s the most effective way for us. I’ve already had the opportunity to do it and we brought back two filled shopping carts”, recalls Léo.
Divided into four groups, the sparrows follow different routes in order to cover as much of Toulouse city center as possible. Léo is the referent of one of the courses. “With my group, I do Saint-Cyprien, another takes care of the Matabiau district, another of Compans-Caffarelli and finally Saint-Michel”, he explains. And to add: “We keep the same routes every week so that the homeless know that they can count on us”.
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More and more homeless people?
According to figures from the town hall of Toulouse and the associations of the city cited by France Blue “775 people were sleeping rough” in January 2022. A figure that is increasing and of which volunteers are already aware on the ground.
I tend to say that there are more homeless than before. When you pass on the edge of the Garonne, there are a lot of them. I didn’t see that when I started three years ago. There is definitely a kind of slum near the Stadium,” says Leo.
Regarding the profiles of the homeless, according to the data transmitted to France Blue at the beginning of the year, it is “30% women and 4 to 5% families”. Faced with the reality on the ground, Léo continues: “During our walks, we see new people every time, but sometimes we only see them once so it’s complicated to draw up a profile. They are often foreigners. , but yesterday for example, I met a former French soldier, a former prisoner or even a divorced woman, it all depends“.
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