these young women do it

Clara and Anouk, two Parisians members of the Entourage network, which aims not to leave the homeless in indifference, welcome us for a nomadic meeting. The opportunity to see the link between volunteers and the homeless.

Looking down, looking elsewhere, pretending not to see the unthinkable: a woman, a man or a child in the street. There's no point in judging, we've all done that. Human misery is difficult to face. But this is no excuse to lose all humanity towards these people that life has not spared. And stop prejudices against them.

According to the latest calculations by the Abbé-Pierre Foundation, dating from November 16, 2020, France has nearly 300,000 homeless people. It is therefore time to act on our scale: a smile, a discussion, a meal … Many initiatives are possible. "When I arrived in Paris, I realized that there was a fairly significant rise in the individualist. The more we are in our routine the less we pay attention to our neighborhood in the street. And I didn't want to become this person. I wanted to bond with the homeless and discovered Entourage ", explains Anouk, member of the Entourage association, during our participation in a nomadic meeting with the homeless, on a Saturday afternoon in November 2020.

Read also: The homeless, even more vulnerable in the face of the health crisis

Entourage, what is it?

On Entourage's site, it says "Human Warmth Network" … and that's saying it little. The history of this association begins in 2012 when Jean-Marc Potdevin, the founder, sees every morning and every evening people who live and sleep on the street, on the sidewalk. One day he stops and spends time with them. An awareness of their isolation jumps in his face. Entourage was born.

The association wants to restore a network to those who no longer have a network. This project is carried by people who have known the streets, social action experts and web professionals. But also, by many volunteers and employees.

Digital tools at the service of others

To achieve its objectives, namely to change society's view of great precariousness and "lift the brakes that prevent people from going to homeless people", Entourage has developed educational content. The Simple as Hello platform is a very good example of this. The specificity of Entourage is also its application which allows anyone to have an impact in their neighborhood, by connecting neighbor and homeless. "More and more homeless people are using the application to express their need", explain the volunteers. A 2019 Solinum study, named Connected insecurity, shows that 71% of people on the street have a smartphone. Thanks to free WiFi in large cities such as train stations or fast-food restaurants, people can connect. There is also access to digital reception points. But also, some neighbors who leave their network open, explains Clara. "Before being on the street, they had cellphones. And associations are mobilizing to equip them", she insists.

The meeting is the key word of the actors of the association. Nomadic meetings, that is to say privileged moments with the homeless, are organized. Offer a book, talk about everything and nothing, offer help or even a job. And in a world without health restrictions, convivial activities are offered such as aperitifs, picnics, sporting events, conferences, screenings-debates …

Discover the different prejudices about the homeless to be banned

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Video by Clemence Chevallet

Human warmth but not pity

During nomadic meetings, like the one we attended, members of the association like Clara and Anouk use the steps to follow when going to a homeless person. Everything is listed in a clever little guide accessible to all. How to behave so as not to be condescending or clumsy? It is therefore advisable to get up to the person's height, including when they are seated or squatting. This adds proximity, but while respecting the social distancing rules currently in force. "Take the time to stop for 5 minutes, to discuss, offer a coffee, ask the person what they need. Also take regular news. Looking at them and considering them is already a first gesture, a first action that a citizen cannot do ", insists Clara.