The tent cities of Paris
The quays of the Seine have changed since I last saw them, and I’ve been ruminating ever since about what it signifies. Everywhere, tent cities are springing up, from small encampments of a couple tents to large groups of dozens under the bigger bridges. As the New York Times reported several months ago, this began when aid groups started handing out tents to the homeless. The city of Paris tried to fine or remove those who camped in public places, but as I understand it was blocked by the courts, who essentially said the homeless have the right to camp in public spaces, so long as it wasn’t a threat to public health and safety, etc.
This has led to an exceedingly odd situation where the homeless have begun to live in semi-permanent encampments. There seems to be some unposted rule about where this is allowed- the tents are never in places where they completely block the right of way, and are never situated in parks that technically close at sunset. The tents are generally well-maintained, and often have a seal indicating which aid group donated them. Indeed, some settlements like those near the Canal St. Martin are beginning to build more permanent wooden structures like shelves (hidden in the undercarriage of the bridge) to hold their belongings.
While the tent villages have the desperation of poverty, and many of their residents have problems with alcoholism, they are not particularly scary to walk by. The residents will often smile and wave to tourists who stop to gawk, and so (apart from the persistent smell of urine) are not particularly unpleasant to the other residents of the city. What a contrast this is with Manhattan’s policy toward the homeless (i.e., kick them off the island)! In a way, Paris’ mode seems more humane, for the residents of the tent villages have a bit of dignity. Still, how absurd is it that in France (or the US), a country wealthy enough to house everybody, people are living under bridges. Even if they have a gorgeous view of Notre Dame, it’s still a disgrace for all the rest of us.
This has led to an exceedingly odd situation where the homeless have begun to live in semi-permanent encampments. There seems to be some unposted rule about where this is allowed- the tents are never in places where they completely block the right of way, and are never situated in parks that technically close at sunset. The tents are generally well-maintained, and often have a seal indicating which aid group donated them. Indeed, some settlements like those near the Canal St. Martin are beginning to build more permanent wooden structures like shelves (hidden in the undercarriage of the bridge) to hold their belongings.
While the tent villages have the desperation of poverty, and many of their residents have problems with alcoholism, they are not particularly scary to walk by. The residents will often smile and wave to tourists who stop to gawk, and so (apart from the persistent smell of urine) are not particularly unpleasant to the other residents of the city. What a contrast this is with Manhattan’s policy toward the homeless (i.e., kick them off the island)! In a way, Paris’ mode seems more humane, for the residents of the tent villages have a bit of dignity. Still, how absurd is it that in France (or the US), a country wealthy enough to house everybody, people are living under bridges. Even if they have a gorgeous view of Notre Dame, it’s still a disgrace for all the rest of us.
