focus on the lives of confined families

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Small shops are the last islands of life in the La Madeleine district (photos: E.R / PN).

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IN EVREUX. Opposite the Evreux Agglomeration hotel, the Esplanade on rue Voltaire, bordered by local shops, remains one of the rare “animation” islets in the La Madeleine district, on this 17th day of confinement. A very relative animation. A group of young people enjoy the sun next to the bakery, applying the rules of “social distancing” in a rather elastic manner. Some locals come to refuel with tobacco or have coffee at the improvised counter in front of the press house entrance. Without lingering. Its young manager, Ismail Cengiz, installed plastic films as health protection, at the request of the police. It patrols regularly, he says. But apart from the extreme case of a controlled recalcitrant … four times an hour, confinement is rather respected, according to him.

“ It’s calm, but distress situations are often hidden “

At Pétrin de La Madeleine, on the other side of the aisle, the boss of the bakery, Pierre Grenet, installed plastic windows to protect his employees. Almost half of them are sick or partially unemployed. Turnover has also fallen by half, at least, estimates this figure of the district, however not of the kind to yield to the ambient gloom.
“ It’s difficult all year round in this neighborhood, so it hasn’t changed. Economic concern is no longer for small businesses. And the closed restaurants, how they are going to do ? “, he wonders.

Jacques Caron, resident of La Madeleine for forty-eight years and president of the Federation of tenants of the Eure, sums up the situation in his own way:
“ The district is in hibernation, apart from the dealers who continue their activity. She’s the only one who kept her usual rhythm. “ He tries to maintain hers, via the Internet. The association’s GA, scheduled for April 11, will be held this way. If the maintenance and collection service is maintained, Jacques Caron does not hide his concern, after the closure of branches of structures such as the Secours populaire, La Poste or the House of public services:
“ The most annoying thing is the Food Bank, some people make ends meet. ” And the fact that there are few feedback from tenants is not to reassure him:
“ It’s calm, but distress situations are often hidden. “

Solidarity initiatives thanks to the Civic Reserve

Solidarity actions were nevertheless put in place from the first days of confinement. François Bouillon, president of the Citizen Council which brings together the districts of Madeleine, Nétreville and Navarre, reports to
“ needs for all ages, not just seniors ” Through the Civic Reserve, in particular, several initiatives have been launched. A certain number of inhabitants of the districts not having computers, and a fortiori printers, certificates of displacement can be deposited or distributed in the mailboxes. The same goes for lessons for students. The City and the Conceptic association have set up a number and a site to connect parents and school support associations and respond to requests. Telephone hotlines are dedicated to people most in difficulty.

Marie-Louise Dossou Yovo, public writer and social worker with the association Femmes en action, among others, is having a hard time with this period:
“ I help the inhabitants in their administrative problems, the constitution of files. And for that, I have to be in contact with the public. ” The telephone then remains the main link, especially with the elderly. The resident of La Madeleine also cites the case of a woman who reported domestic violence to her. She referred her to a social worker. From the top floor of the tower overlooking La Madeleine, it’s a ghost district that offers itself to him,
“ where people only go out to shop ”