France emergency shelters face 10% budget cut, risking closures

A 10% reduction in the state budget for emergency housing in Île‑de‑France has been announced by the regional housing authority (Drihl). The cut threatens roughly 70 places out of the 1,200 managed by the charity Equalis and could force the closure of its Paris emergency shelter in 2026.

Around twenty NGOs, including the Salvation Army, Emmaüs Solidarité, Equalis and Aurore, have written to housing minister Vincent Jeanbrun demanding the cancellation of the savings measures. Claire Dupont, director of Equalis, warned that the retroactive notice leaves no margin for the organisations, while Marie Degrand‑Guillaud of Aurore highlighted similar budget pressures in Marseille.

The associations argue that the reductions will directly diminish capacity to assist the most vulnerable—people without homes, victims of domestic violence, migrants and asylum seekers—who rely on the 115 emergency number and shelter services.