- Title: Cannes' festival palace, usually star-studded, houses homeless amid outbreak
- Date: 24th March 2020
- Summary: CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 12, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF PALAIS DES FESTIVALS ET DES CONGRES WITH TENTS AND CANNES FILM FESTIVAL POSTER CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 13, 2019) (REUTERS) PALAIS DES FESTIVAL ET DES CONGRES / POLICE OFFICERS MARCHING BY CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 22, 2019) (REUTERS) PHOTOGRAPHERS ON RED CARPET CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 21, 2019) (REUTERS) ACTOR LEONARDO DICAPRIO AND DIRECTOR QUENTIN TARANTINO OF "ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD" ON TOP OF STEPS, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL DIRECTOR THIERRY FREMAUX PHOTOGRAPHERS (LEFT TO RIGHT) DICAPRIO, TARANTINO, TARANTINO'S WIFE, SINGER AND MODEL DANIELLA PICK, PRODUCERS DAVID HEYMAN, SHANNON MCINTOSH, ROBBIE AND PITT POSING/TARANTINO WAVING AND MAKING V SIGNS CANNES, FRANCE (FILE - MAY 14, 2019) (REUTERS) SINGER-ACTOR SELENA GOMEZ AND CAST MEMBERS POSING ON RED CARPET AT PREMIERE OF "THE DEAD DON'T DIE" PHOTOGRAPHERS
- Embargoed: 7th April 2020 17:53
- Keywords: Cannes Film Festival France Palais des Congres confinement coronavirus outbreak homeless people
- Location: CANNES, FRANCE
- City: CANNES, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002C6EXA9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Palais des Festivals should be preparing to welcome the hottest names in cinema on its red carpet. Instead, the Cannes Film Festival venue is opening its doors to the homeless who have nowhere to go during the coronavirus lockdown.
The annual film festival in the palm-fringed French Riviera town was due to take place from May 12-23 but last week organisers postponed the event until late June. It opened its doors to the destitute on Friday (March 20).
"We have between 50 and 70 people here every night," said Dominique Aude-Lasset, an official at Cannes City Hall.
Eight days ago, President Emmanuel Macron told France's 67 million people to stay at home to protect themselves from the pandemic, and to slow its spread. That's a big problem for the country's estimated 12,000 homeless who live on the streets.
There is concern the coronavirus could have an outsized impact on the homeless who often live without access to proper sanitation and sometimes suffer underlying illnesses. Many rely on handouts from a public now confined indoors.
At the entrance, a worker in a face mask takes the temperature of each homeless person each time they enter the site. Inside, there is an eating area, shower block and communal space with television and games. In a cavernous, low-ceiling room, camp-beds are set up in three long lines.
There are also four kennels to house man's best friend.
"We know that they are precious companions for all these people who live in the street," Aude-Lasset said.
(Production: Eric Gaillard, Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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