On 28 September 2016, I went to the prefecture, I gave my fingerprints, I was given an asylum seeker's certificate, and during all that time I continued to live on the streets, because there was no accomodation [...]. I also called 115 but they told me that: 'No, we do not take lone boys, we take families, pregnant women, women with children; so if you're alone, there really is no place for you.' So I had no choice, I continued to sleep outdoors, in the underground, here and there. And it was in 2017, in August, that I had this place in the CADA here.
(Refugee from Democratic Republic of the Congo, male, France)
A: I've been looking for a house on my own for a year and I still haven't found anything, I'm still looking
Q: Why haven't you found one?
A: I think it's because I don't have a long-term contract, so maybe ...
Q: Only that?
A: Let's say it's also because I'm a but coloured
Q: Tell me, when you look for a house, what are landlords' reactions?
A: Landlords, when you call them, they say somebody's already taken the house, they ask you where you're from, what job you do and then when you tell them you're African they say 'ah somebody's already taken the house, I'm sorry' ... Even where I am now we don't have a regular house rental agreement.
(Refugee from The Gambia, male, Italy)
I already applied for social housing, but there they told me that it takes a long time to get something, and I also made requests for a young worker's home, but up to now I have had no response.
(Refugee from Democratic Republic of the Congo, male, France)
You can see yourselves the situation here, how it is. It is better that I don't stay here, I want to leave ... there is no school, I cannot work either, it is far from everything. We just eat, drink and sleep.
(Refugee from Eritrea, male, France)