“I am 78 years old and in two months I will be on the street”: despite her repeated requests for social housing in Montpellier, Annie remains without a solution

Annie, dos au mur, exige un logement social devant la préfecture de l'Hérault Midi Libre – Fiona Slous

Annie, 78 ans, se retrouve dans l'obligation de quitter sa location d'ici fin août, sans solution de repli. Malgré les demandes répétées de logement social, l'administration reste muette.

Annie, who has worked all her life, could not imagine one day finding herself in this situation. With a cane in her hand, the retiree demonstrates this July 2 in front of the prefecture of Montpellier. She's not alone. A few members of the Workers' Party accompany her and hold up a red banner: "A roof for Annie! Right to housing! Requisition of billions from war and speculation. Their objective: to obtain social housing for the septuagenarian and prove that this is not an isolated case. Behind her glasses fumes, Annie masks her anger: "I'am 78 years old and in two months I will be on the street".< /p>

A precarious retirement

Since 2015, Annie has lived in an apartment adjoining a private villa. Following the death of the owner last January, the house was sold. She is forced to leave the premises. With its 1,200 € retirement, impossible to rent a property. "I could afford a studio for &400 €, but there's none. That's why social housing exists", exasperates the retiree. She worked until 72&nbsp years in the social sector to ensure a decent salary. Today, she doesn't understand how the State can leave its workers homeless.

The silence of the administration

Her age, 78 years old, and the two-month deadline to return the apartment, places Annie as an emergency housing seeker. However, she anticipated her departure, by submitting an application for housing in May 2023, renewed last April. Since then, she has been scouring social workers and housing assistance organizations who pass the buck. Faced with the silence of the administration, the Workers' Party, in which Annie is active, ;nbsp;co-wrote an open letter, accompanied by a petition, to the mayor of Montpellier, Michaël Delafosse, and the prefect of the city ;Hérault, François-Xavier Lauch. The petition has gathered more than 900 signatures, but once again it's radio silence.