Strasbourg builds homeless village

STRASBOURG council has opened an experimental “village” in the heart of the city centre to provide accommodation, training and support to homeless people.

The mairie is working with social housing firm Adoma on the two-year experiment. About 30 people have moved into the site so far, sleeping in wooden chalets specially built for the project.

The initiative aims to rehabilitate those who have been sleeping rough and help them find new work and a permanent home.

As well as the wooden chalets, the site includes a communal meeting area, work spaces, a shared allotment and a sports area.

About a dozen social workers will accompany the residents, offering professional training courses and arts and crafts workshops. There is also a medical drop-in centre.

Adoma, which helps provide social housing to vulnerable groups the length and breadth of France, hopes to bring the concept to other cities if it is a success.