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La Gaîté Lyrique is launching a new call for help following the departure of the management

undefined undefined 27 février 2025 undefined 11h50

undefined undefined 28 février 2025 undefined 20h08

The Editor

© La Gaîté Lyrique

Occupied since December 10 by over 400 unaccompanied homeless minors, the cultural establishment announces, “ we are no longer able to manage, maintain, and operate the building.” The employees, who have been active on the site until now, have asserted their right to withdraw. 

The future of the unworthy » which no longer allows him to be « capable of managing, maintaining, and operating the building ».


Increasing Violence 

The employees, “who have expressed their full confidence and support for management on several occasions,” have invoked their right to withdraw on Tuesday. The reason behind this decision is the recent “fire alarms” and the lack of response.&quo; fire outbreak in occupied spaces » that occurred on February 21, representing « a serious and imminent danger » for those who have been performing 24/7 patrols on the site. La Gaîté Lyrique particularly denounces a « untenable overcrowding » among the occupants, which leads to « increasing violence, both in severity and frequency ». 


The Inaction of Administrative Authorities Described 

By « offering emergency assistance in the middle of winter » on their website, the employees have « done their best to address the shortcomings of the administrative authorities », while the City of Paris, the owner of the premises, has yet to find any housing solutions. The management stated in their announcement that they have informed them of their intention to « suspend the concession contract that binds them to this, effective Friday, February 28 », the announcement continues. 

Without a response, the teams will leave the building and suspend « the execution of contracts with service providers (fire safety, security, hygiene, cleanliness, waste collection…) ». Specifically, the various spaces of the cultural establishment, of u .on a total surface of 2000 m², would no longer be maintained, and could be permanently damaged in case of an incident. 


Evacuation: A Solution?  

Called upon by the City of Paris, the judge in summary proceedings at the administrative court ordered on February 13 the evacuation within a month. The Town Hall then indicated that it would not call on law enforcement, stating that it had initiated this procedure to compel the State, responsible for emergency housing, to “ take its responsibilities ”. 

Asked by Le Parisien, Léa Filoche, deputy to Anne Hidalgo in charge of solidarity, emergency housing, and refugee protection, laments “the seriousState disengagement in terms of taking care of the homeless, especially young people seeking recognition of minority status  ». Everyone is passing the buck without any intention of wrapping up the game. The Gaîté Lyrique, on the other hand, states that it will only resume management of the building when “the competent authorities have safeguarded the occupants ”.