For over a month, the Gaîté Lyrique Theater in Paris has become an unexpected refuge for a group of homeless migrants.
The theater, known for hosting cultural events, found itself at the center of a humanitarian crisis during the harsh winter months.
The occupation began on December 10, during a conference called “Reinventing the Welcome for Refugees in France”, writes OddityCentral.
The event, held at the theater, brought together 250 African migrants. When the conference ended, the attendees refused to leave.
They were soon joined by about 50 others seeking shelter from the cold.
Since then, the Gaîté Lyrique has canceled all performances, at least until January 24. This disruption has caused significant financial losses for the theater.
December alone saw losses in the hundreds of thousands of euros. The institution relies on performances for 70% of its income, with the remaining 30% coming from state subsidies.
Despite this strain, theater management has stated it is “unthinkable” to force the migrants out onto the streets during winter.
The Paris City Hall also issued a statement supporting the theater’s decision. It emphasized the need for social solutions and suitable housing for those in need.
The city rejected the idea of evictions, calling for the government and local authorities to step in and provide accommodation.
A banner hanging on the theater’s facade reads, “Housing emergency, isolated minors on the streets!”
The group representing the migrants claims that most of them are minors, which would make them eligible for shelter and support under French law.
However, reports from French media, including Le Figaro, suggest many of the migrants are actually adults registered with social services.
Efforts by journalists to gain access to the theater have been unsuccessful. The theater claims that access is managed by the migrants’ representatives, while the migrants’ collective states that the theater controls the permissions.
The situation has brought attention to the broader issue of homelessness and migration in France, raising questions about the country’s ability to provide care and shelter for those in need.
