Since December 31, twenty tents, provided by the association and now thirty, have been set up on the Centenaire Beach, opposite the Mรฉridien hotel in Nice.
Initially, the activists who set up the tents were located at Jardin Albert Premier. Dislodged rather forcefully by law enforcement, they moved just across the way to Centenaire Beach. “On January 3, the Mayor of Nice suggested we move eleven kilometers away, to the Var plain. For us, it’s inconceivable to leave. It’s important to know that there is night sheltering in Old Nice and that toilet facilities, food distribution, coffee, and blankets are available here, at Jardin Albert Premier and in front of the Port Church,” explains Michel, who is both an activist and homeless, a few hours before the collective decided to stop the movement, having received satisfaction from the government. In Nice, they’re awaiting the officialization of this decision and also the processing of housing reassignment files for vacant apartments by the OPAH.
Beyond the material and technical questions, Patrick, originally from Paris, a seasoned traveler and activist with Action Against Unemployment, emphasizes the importance of being there and being heard: “Even though there are many tourists, there are also many locals. Some come down and start talking to us and to the homeless. It allows them to interact, to slightly understand how these people live, to see that they exist. What matters is the adventure that everyone present is part of. Some have life experiences you can’t even imagine. Even with initially hostile passers-by, we’ve managed to have a few minutes of discussion; it’s good.”
The main goal of this national operation was to draw the media’s and politicians’ attention; but to what? It’s essentially about the issue of emergency housing, which is unsanitary, anxiety-inducing, prone to thefts, has limited staying durations, and unadapted schedules. This explains, according to the interviewed activists, the discrepancy between the few remaining vacancies at the night shelter in Old Nice, as stated by Marie Montana, Deputy Mayor, and the hundreds of homeless in the city (500 according to the municipality, 719 according to the Social Emergency Service and Mutual Aid).
What emerged from this movement is the desire to act together and to live a unique experience: “We must unite all struggling populations, the suburban youths, and not leave them behind, the homeless, the welfare recipients, the unemployed. I am part of AC, but I do not despise welfare recipients, because tomorrow, it could be me. Precariousness affects everyone, and we owe it to ourselves to come together and do something together. There are people who have been on the streets for ten years; now they think there is hope, perhaps a belief that things can change. They consider that their lives are not just about struggle; there could be something else together.”
Moreover, a street party was held last Saturday. It was requested that the principles of the charter initiated by “the Children of Don Quixote” (see website www.lesenfantsdedonquichotte.org) be adopted in a future bill. Additionally, donations were collected (various items and money). Finally, the act of spending time in conversation, multiple exchanges, laughter, together among the homeless and the well-housed, among young and old, between strugglers, precariously situated, and others better off, all around a communal meal, is already a form of struggle and a victory of solidarity and congeniality over withdrawal and indifference.
