The number of beneficiaries of Restos, already 1.1 million across France, has jumped 12% since last April.
“It’s as many meals that will not be distributed“: the local Restos du Coeur de Migennes (Yonne) denounces “the arbitraryfrom the town hall, which decided to no longer pay for heating, citing soaring energy costs. “We were not consulted, it is an arbitrary decision“, declared Friday to AFP Alain Servion, the president of the Restos du coeur de l’Yonne, after the announcement by the municipality of Migennes to no longer pay, from January, the electricity of the local put free to the arrangement of the association. “What we will pay in electricity is as many meals that will not be distributed. In the municipality, we help about 500 people“, underlines Alain Servion, specifying that the invoice at stake amounts to 1800 euros per year.
Price increase
At the level of the department, the Restos du Coeur have fifteen centers and around 320 volunteers. “I was scared but for other sites it went well despite the price hike“, he says. Asked by AFP, the mayor of Migennes, LR François Boucher invokes a “increase in gas and electricity prices by 300-400%“. “I have a million euros in savings to be found on an 8.9 budget. It was that or cut civil servants or raise taxes“, he explains.
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“For our part, we have reduced consumption and lighting as much as possible. Some public rooms will remain closed this winter. But I still have 500,000 euros in savings to find“, pleads the mayor of Migennes. The municipality of around 7,000 inhabitants (in an agglomeration of 15,000) is one of the most affected municipalities in the region, a situation further aggravated by the recent closure of the unit of the German automotive subcontractor Benteler which employed 400 people. in Migennes.
“When the situation returns to normal, we will resume“Assistance to associations, assures François Boucher. The number of beneficiaries of Restos, already 1.1 million across France, has jumped 12% since last April. And their difficulties have increased, since 60% (instead of 50% a year earlier) live in the “extreme poverty», That is to say with less than half of the poverty line, according to the association founded by Coluche.
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