Project presentation
Many people arriving in France after migration journeys are exhausted and highly vulnerable. Without knowledge of the language or the resources to access housing, many are forced to live on the streets or in informal camps. In Paris, the association Utopia 56 organizes outreach activities to meet these individuals, distribute essential items and guide them toward existing support services.
These outreach activities have highlighted a particularly concerning situation for women: many women travelling alone, mothers with children, and unaccompanied minor girls are unable to access emergency shelter, which is often saturated.
To respond to this urgent need, Utopia 56 has set up a “solidarity hosting” system. Each evening, volunteers meet people in need of accommodation near Paris City Hall and connect them with volunteer hosts who can provide temporary shelter. The association also organizes transportation and ensures follow-up support, helping beneficiaries access social, medical and administrative services.
In addition, the association is developing alternative emergency accommodation solutions, including the temporary occupation of former office spaces in Bagnolet to provide a safe place where dozens of women and families can sleep each night.
