Toulouse: out of pure good heart, a Toulousain comes to the aid of a duo of homeless people by hosting them in his home
Ali, 43, met two homeless people by chance. He wanted to help them by finding them temporary accommodation and ended up taking them to his house.
Ali*, 43, Toni and José might never have met without this event. A few days ago, in Toulouse, this 40-year-old heard a noise downstairs from his home. When he descends, he finds a person fainting. Around her, two people: José and Toni. “I didn’t know anything about them but they were trying to help this person who was feeling unwell. We waited for help together. I only realized at the end that José and Toni were living on the street,” says Ali modestly. Quickly, this Toulousain offers them something to warm up and looks for accommodation for the duo so that they can spend at least one night in the warmth. But he will quickly come up against the crying lack of accommodation. “I wanted it. I had somehow sold them dreams. This is how I came to suggest that they come to my house, ”recounts, moved, Ali. “They were very embarrassed, very respectful. They offered to help me move large pieces of furniture that I had to remove for months from my apartment. I met two great people”, admits, touched, this Toulousain. Result: a real friendship is woven.
“Nothing special”
Over the course of the conversations, Ali understands that the two people he is hosting are encountering administrative problems. “One explained to me that he had to redo his papers that he had been robbed and both needed to take identity photos to find work”, further details the one who opened his door. . The next day, the trio gets down to settling this paperwork in order to unblock the situation. This suspended moment of humanity and solidarity allowed one of the two homeless people to find temporary assignments. His “travel companion” was the subject of an administrative measure and was placed in the detention center with a view to being deported to the border. “There is no happy ending choice. In itself, I did not reflect, I did it on instinct. I consider that I did nothing extraordinary, I even took risks, but the outcome proved me right”, insists the author of this good deed who admits that he is not a member of any charitable association. . If he had the idea of helping this duo of people in this way, it is above all because he knows Sarah Frikh very well, president of the association “Réchauffons nos SDF”. This woman from Toulouse who lives in Paris has been involved for many years in helping homeless people. Thanks to donations and volunteers, the association provides temporary accommodation for these people in great precariousness until they “stabilize”. The president of the association also launched a petition listing more than 400,000 signatures for the creation of reception centers in order to put homeless women in safety. More recently, this trained journalist launched his podcast show ” Second chance “ which tells the story of these people who have left the streets.