The Documentary Podcast Re-homing France’s immigrant workers
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Jul 8, 2025 The podcast delves into the impending demolition of immigrant worker housing in France, revealing the fears of long-time residents about losing their community and culture. Personal stories highlight the struggles and cramped living conditions faced by these workers. It also addresses the control and surveillance they endure in their housing, as well as the emotional toll of new eviction regulations. A community kitchen emerges as a vital space for preserving cultural identity, emphasizing the importance of communal ties amid ongoing changes.
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Longtime Resident's Housing Fear
- Baadémou Koulibaly, aged 71 from Mali, has lived in a foyer for over 50 years.
- He fears losing his home due to demolition and social housing replacement plans.
Foyers Foster Immigrant Communities
- About 700 foyers were built post-WWII to house immigrant workers, now under 100 remain.
- These foyers foster community and culture important to residents, which social housing may break up.
Transformation and Control at Foyer Pinel
- Foyer Pinel was once a bustling African village with markets and workshops.
- Now it is sanitized and surveilled, with restrictions on keys and evictions causing hardships.