COVID-19: Paris La Défense intensifies its fight against extreme precariousness

As during the first confinement and as winter approaches, Paris La Défense and local associations are mobilising to limit the impact of the health crisis on isolated people or those in very precarious situations. To this end, food distribution and the creation of a shelter in Paris La Défense Arena are being implemented, among other artworks.

Redistribution of foodstuffs

Faced with the health crisis, daily life is even more difficult for people in great precarious situations, particularly in terms of food. To meet this need and fight against food wastage, Le Chaînon manquant collects good quality food from restaurants and company canteens in Paris La Défense.

When the new confinement was announced, the association collected almost 2.5 tonnes of food in one week. This volume represents 5,000 meals distributed to the most deprived. The products collected are stored in the cold rooms of the Paris La Défense Arena and the Hauts-de-Seine Departmental Council, opened for the occasion, before being redistributed by the association.
>>Learn more about Le Chaînon Manquant

Thanks to this collection, 970 meals have already been distributed to the Maison de l'Amitié La Défense, an association that welcomes nearly a hundred people in great difficulty on a daily basis. This has forced the association to step up the preparation and distribution of food parcels to meet the needs of its beneficiaries.
>> Find out more about La Maison de l'Amitié

Activation of sheltering in the cold weather plan

As in the previous year, and in order to offset the difficulties of existing structures due to the health context, an agreement between Paris La Défense Arena, the French Red Cross and the State made it possible to create a temporary winter emergency accommodation centre. Thus, until 31 March 2021, people who are isolated during periods of extreme cold or in an emergency will be offered accommodation with a capacity of around thirty places, sanitary facilities with showers, a kitchen area and the distribution of meal baskets.
>> Find out more about the Extreme Cold Plan