“When you don’t have furniture in your home, it’s a hassle”testifies Fatou, who was able to get new equipment at a low price at the Equipment Solidarity Bank, an Emmaüs Défi project aimed at helping precarious people settle into their first home.
This 32-year-old single mother, whose first name has been changed, is now looking for linens. “I think the kids will like it”she smiles as she unfolds a green duvet cover decorated with animals, sold for five euros in the Emmaüs Défi show apartment, located in the 19th arrondissement in Paris.
Small desk for 12 euros, blue armchair for 25 euros, single mattress for 30 euros: in this space of around thirty square meters, an area is dedicated to each room of the house, displaying furniture to order and accessories to take away directly.
Fatou chooses from the small selection placed on a shelf two other bed sets, curtains and a blanket: “I found my happiness! »rejoices this Ile-de-France resident who is preparing to take her “first end of year celebrations” at home, social housing allocated after a long period where she was housed with her children with a relative.
Born twelve years ago, the Emmaüs Défi system aims to fight against the material insecurity of people who access long-term housing. At the request of their social worker, they come to acquire new objects at reduced prices, donated to the association by around sixty partner companies.
Sleep on the floor
Each beneficiary is entitled to three personalized one-hour appointments, allowing them to select equipment from the catalog and in the model apartment.
“Everything goes very quickly” car “most people have nothing when they arrive at their accommodation”observes Adama Marina, 20 years old, one of the sales advisors at the Paris branch. “It’s hard when someone doesn’t have enough money to buy what they want even though you can see in their eyes that they like the item”.
During his first appointment, Richard, 63, had to make choices to respect his budget of 200 euros. This Parisian, who experienced the street, has just left a social hotel for a two-room apartment, but “there’s nothing in there”: “I sleep on the floor in my sleeping bag, with my backpack as a pillow and I wake up from discomfort. So the idea is to first buy a bed”.
He will have to look elsewhere to find frame and box spring, because only mattresses are available. Almost new because they were inherited from the Olympic athletes' village, following the Paris Games.
Richard takes a quick look at the display model then chooses some essential pieces of furniture for him. Hob, pots and dishes will be waiting. Just like his favorite, a desk allowing you to work standing up.
Dignity
The system present in Paris, Aubervilliers, Lille, Lyon and Toulouse has already benefited nearly 37,000 people.
Why sell them these donated items rather than gift them? “This is part of our economic model, even if the turnover is far from covering our expenses”explains to AFP Alexandra Blanchin, general director of Emmaüs Défi, who mentions personnel and point of sale costs.
“It is also important for the dignity of the person that there is a price on the object”she said.
A principle generally accepted by beneficiaries, like Awa (assumed first name), 40 years old. “Not everything can be free”underlines this mother of a large family, a packed cart at her side. She leaves with two desk lamps and a stack of multicolored towels. The furniture will be delivered later.
“It’s so good, I was able to get dressers for all my children instead of just one as it was only 32 euros each”she smiles, delighted to spend some of what she and her husband have “saved for years, depriving yourself of many things”.
The family lived for a long time in two hotel rooms, emergency accommodation. Moving into an apartment “It’s a big change, I can’t believe it”she adds.
