Paris Counts 3,000 in First-Ever Homeless Census

At least 3,000 people sleep rough on the streets of Paris, according to figures from the city's first ever homelessness census which authorities warned Wednesday were likely a serious underestimate.


Some 1,700 Parisian volunteers and 300 officials carried out the census last Thursday night, going street by street counting the number of people huddled in sleeping bags in doorways or camped out in tents, AFP reported.

They also surveyed homeless people about their housing and health problems, collecting data that Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo hopes will allow authorities to design better policies to help those on the streets.

Deputy mayor Bruno Julliard, unveiling the results, warned that the figure of 2,952 people sleeping rough - added to 672 in emergency winter shelters - was a low estimate.
 (Tasnim)
 21/2/18