Simone and her twin sister Christiane had been living in the basement of their apartment since October 28, 2022, after being evicted from their home. The two women died in May and again last August.
“I didn’t think life would end up like this,” Simone told BFM Nice Côte d’Azur in December 2022. She and her twin sister Christiane were evicted from the apartment where they had spent their entire lives in Nice on October 28, 2022. Despite this, they decided to continue living in the basement of their building.
The two women, aged 75, both died within a few weeks of each other, in May and August, BFM Nice Côte d’Azur learned from the city of Nice, confirming information from our colleagues at Nice-Matin.
Despite the many rehousing proposalsthe twins stood firm on their position: their apartment or nothing. “I’m sure people think, ‘they could have found another apartment, and that’s it’. I’m just loyal, that’s all,” Christiane said on our channel in November 2023, a year after their eviction.
“It’s a whole life that we are being asked to leave behind”
In the darkness, a small lantern in her hand, Christiane pointed to the secluded space where she had been living for a year with her sister. On a mattress on the floor, in the basement of the building where the apartment they had occupied all their lives was located, The two 75-year-old women lived without water or electricity..
“We know that our numerous letters must annoy you. It is a whole life that we are being asked to leave, so we beg you, repair this injustice,” they asked in one of the letters sent to the new owner of the premises.
The latter had decided in October 2022 to recover his property. These two women, former caretakers of the building, had not been evicted for rent issues. By virtue of their title, they were housed for free; it was the change of owner that had thrown them out of their accommodation.
The former tenants had considered buying back their property but were unable to contact the owner. Far from being a question of means for the twins, it was out of the question to abandon a life of memories. “We are ready to live in this cellar until we return here, to our apartment!”, confided the two sisters, at the foot of the door of their former home, in December 2022.
Simone, who was ill and then hospitalized, died last May. Just before her sister Christiane, in August, at the age of 75. The two septuagenarians were still living in their cellar while the city of Nice had continued to offer them rehousing solutions.
Alixan Lavorel and Manon Aversa
