Cold winter in Europe - Carrefour Foundation

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France : The Carrefour International Foundation supports the work of the teams from Samu

At the end of January 2006, 78 French départements were put on a “severe cold” weather alert (Level 2 of the Winter Plan for the Homeless), and three others on an “extreme cold” weather alert (Level 3 and Final Level), according to a press release from the Ministry for Social Cohesion and Housing.

To support the emergency programme established by the French government, the Foundation backed up the actions of SAMU Social in France in aid of homeless people with a donation of €4,900.

Depending on the département in question, the Foundation helped to distribute foodstuffs and hot drinks (soups, coffee, chocolate) as well as survival blankets and warm clothing (fleece jackets, hats, scarves, gloves, socks and shoes).

Level 2 requires the authorities to make additional places available over and above those provided within permanent facilities (3,809 places in addition to the 5,264 places at Level 1 of the winter plan) plus the strengthening of 115 teams (the emergency number for homeless people) and Samu Social mobile teams, as well as the opening of night shelters for people who refuse to accept accommodation. The service is triggered when day temperatures drop below 0º C and vary between –5º and –10º C at night.

Three départements, the Oise, Ille-et-Vilaine and Mayenne, were put on Level 3 alert, requiring the provision of supplementary accommodation (3,291 extra places in addition to the 9,072 made available at Level 1 and Level 2). It is activated when night temperatures drop below –10º C.