The association, Le Café Suspendu, was forced, once again, to organize an outreach distribution in front of the closed premises of the XVth Corps. On the evening of Saturday, July 25th, volunteers and beneficiaries raised awareness about the insufficient resources deployed for people in precarious situations.
No one could ignore the distress of the volunteers when they found themselves at the door of the premises for the third time on July 25th. The keys to the XVth Corps premises had not been given to them, due to a lack of coordination between the various municipal departments. The distribution, which was supposed to begin at 6:45 p.m., could only start at 7:30 p.m.
The Café Suspendu association organizes fixed outreach distributions in Nice. The meals are prepared by volunteers, but they are also collected. Their actions are aimed at homeless people and those in precarious situations. The president, Camille Santucci, warns of the growing number of people affected. The 27-year-old Nice native regrets the number of retirees and people evicted from their homes seeking assistance. “We can have a very good situation and because of a divorce or a death, we can quickly fall to the other side,” she recalled.
Beyond being a necessity, fixed outreach distributions create a genuine moment of social solidarity between volunteers and beneficiaries. Nevertheless, the lack of sufficient resources constitutes a barrier to this collective commitment.
Camille Santucci: “We just want to distribute in a dignified place“
Tickets were distributed by a volunteer to create an order of passage. People without fixed residence are prioritized. An impressive line formed along the building of the XVth Corps, behind the Jean Bouin swimming pool.
Faced with a closed premises, volunteers were forced to set up meal boxes on the ground, creating a makeshift counter. Following the closure of the Dabray premises, near Gare Thiers station, Café Suspendu had obtained authorization to use the XVth Corps premises.
“Despite our calls and those of the on-call service of the C.C.A.S., the security agency remained unreachable,” the association lamented on its Instagram account, following the solidarity tour of July 11th. Despite the prohibition on conducting street outreach distributions, the association found itself forced once again to distribute meals on the street.
“We found ourselves facing around a hundred people who simply waited for a meal.” Opposition members at Nice town hall have already warned about the lack of action by the municipal majority during a press conference on July 8th. “We don’t want subsidies, we just want to distribute in a dignified place,” declared Camille Santucci, the association’s president.
A feeling of abandonment
On July 25th, volunteers and homeless people felt isolated once again. “We are left abandoned, this is the second or third outreach we’ve done and during which we’re on the street,” regretted Léa, a volunteer for four years at Café Suspendu in Nice. On the side of vulnerable people, they endure an internal turmoil, between gratitude and anger. Distribution conditions are difficult. “We cannot distribute under dignified and peaceful conditions for them,” observed Camille Santucci.
Furthermore, there are fewer associations working. For nearly a month, the Côte d’Azur city has faced extreme heat. “It would be good if at least during summer, the town hall made up for the absence of outreach distributions, because there are people who haven’t eaten in several days,” noted Camille Santucci, pointing to beneficiaries. The Nice Café Suspendu has adapted its actions to the season. Unlimited water bottles were distributed, fruit salads and cold meals are prepared.
Users showed understanding and patience. Some helped carry food containers. Despite this dramatic situation, the atmosphere between volunteers and beneficiaries is driven by a spirit of solidarity and goodwill.
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