In life, there are things we'd love to see happen, and which unfortunately will forever remain pure fantasy. A fair and equal society, a punctual and affordable metro, or even free housing on the streets of Paris. Well, good news—when it comes to that last point, it looks like the dream of many of you might just be becoming reality…
A context of crisis
In 2024, in the capital, nearly 20% of young students reported not having enough to eat. One in two students lives on less than €100 a month, forcing some to go without essential items, like
free hygiene products, or even enough food to eat their fill. A catastrophic situation, mainly due to the cost of housing, which reaches absolutely staggering heights in the streets of Paris. To deal with this, several solutions (more or less good ones) are available to young people: settling for a gloomy bedroom where the bed only fits sideways, squeezed between the floor space and the shower cubicle; finding a roommate, which can sometimes turn into all-out war; landing a spot in a student residence, a stroke of luck that isn't granted to everyone; or turning to organizations like Domitys, which offer unusual exchanges as a solution.Les universités rejoignent les collégiens et lycéens dans leurs mouvements.
— bouletteskefta 🐦 (@bouletteskefta) October 1, 2026
La surprise vient des étudiants, des ados et très jeunes adultes.
qui se battent pour leurs conditions d'étude, manque de moyens.
Il ne faut pas aussi oublier que le gouvernement
Ont réduits leurs… https://t.co/Yx0SXVQ6Ji pic.twitter.com/BKfNedB3iT
The best deal in the world ?
Located all over the Île-de-France region, these senior residences offer a golden opportunity: providing free housing to students in exchange for a few hours of volunteering each week to help seniors. And we're talking about real fully-equipped apartments around forty square meters, mind you! On top of that, the beneficiaries can enjoy meals at the residence, as well as access to the swimming pool or the gym. In return, the only requirement is to give 15 hours of your time each week, to lead workshops, accompany outings, organize evenings... An arrangement that works just as well for the residents as it does for students.and which makes it possible to create unexpected yet solid connections, while also helping to fight student financial hardship a bit!
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