The homeless, most of whom are immigrants with varying legal statuses, were promised shelter at their destinations, however in some cases they have ended up on the streets yet again. Others have simply been deported.
According to the New York Times, 10 temporary shelters were set up in cities throughout France in 2023. Since then, a total of 5,000 homeless people, most of whom are single men, have been evicted from Paris and sent there. That is still just a fraction of the estimated 100,000 living without proper shelter in the French capital.
Upon arrival, they live in the shelters for up to three weeks while their qualifications are assessed. If eligible, they are given long-term housing, however only around 40 percent have fallen into that category.
While the program has been operational for some time, efforts have ramped up in preparation for the Olympics. The government denied that the rise in bussing is tied to the games, however internal emails reviewed by the Times revealed that a housing official said the goal was to "identify people on the street in sites near Olympic venues" and get them out. Seine-Saint-Denis is home to a number of venues and the Olympic Village, and the government has spent billions making the area worthy of hosting the world.
The games are set to begin on Friday, July 26 and will last until Sunday, August 11.
