Since November 1, 2024 and until March 31, 2025, under the authority of the prefect of Ariège, state services and all social monitoring actors (115, departmental council, municipalities and associations), are mobilizing to strengthen the emergency accommodation system, by opening additional places to accommodate vulnerable people who are homeless or in distress.
Operational activation in the event of a cold wave is based on meteorological vigilance transmitted by Météo France. During this same period, the winter break suspends all rental evictions.
The axes of the 2024/2025 extreme cold plan
- Ensure seasonal monitoring by coordinating the various social emergency stakeholders,
- Respond as closely as possible to requests, identify and activate exceptional places to ensure effective shelter for people in precarious situations throughout the department,
- Strengthen the approach to go-towards during daily marauding carried out by the French Red Cross throughout the department
- Support people able to access it towards long-term housing and better prevent situations for which a risk of rental eviction has been identified.
The 3 levels of the winter emergency accommodation system
The system for welcoming homeless people, which operates all year round, is reinforced during the winter period. Increased vigilance is being implemented for people in very precarious circumstances, in need of emergency accommodation.
The winter campaign is based on monitoring climatic conditions and the responsiveness of social monitoring actors. The Ariège department is increasing its emergency accommodation capacity during the winter period with, up to 174 places can be used, depending on the intensity of the cold.
1 – Strengthening emergency accommodation capacity and level 1
From November 1, 2024, 38 additional places are in addition to the 136 places open all year round in terms of emergency accommodation.
2 – Increase in accommodation places and level 2 of the extreme cold plan
This level corresponds to an aggravated meteorological situation with daytime temperatures felt between – 11°C and – 17°C. The level 2 alert triggers reinforced patrols and prompts increased vigilance from the police and gendarmerie services: 10 additional places
3 – Triggering from level 3 of the extreme cold plan (exceptional crisis)This level corresponds to an exceptional meteorological situation with daytime temperatures below -18°C: 5 additional places can be mobilized through the temporary opening of accommodation places.
Strengthened social monitoring
In addition to strengthening the accommodation system, the three day centers in Foix, Pamiers and St-Girons are changing their opening hours, to offer reception during the lunch break, as well as on weekends, when weather conditions are 'impose. These reception spaces are supervised by social integration professionals. Social support, a health diagnosis and assistance in accessing rights are offered to each person welcomed.
The Red Cross is organizing maraudes in Foix, Pamiers, Laroque d'Olmes, Mirepoix, Lavelanet, Tarascon-sur-Ariège and Saint-Girons. They make it possible to identify people in difficulty, provide them with warm clothing and food and offer them accommodation for the night, in an emergency accommodation center. These raids can become daily in the event of extreme weather conditions.
A reinforced integrated reception and orientation service
The integrated reception and orientation service of Ariège, which manages the 115, makes it possible to improve the care of people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless and to streamline the transition from accommodation to housing. . The SIAO is aware of all the additional and exceptional measures implemented during periods of extreme cold. He is the regulator of the device.
Source: Ariège Prefecture
