Paris Activates Emergency “Cold Weather Plan” to Protect Homeless as Severe Winter Grips Île-de-France

Paris Launches Cold Weather Plan to Protect Homeless as Temperatures Plunge

As freezing temperatures tighten their grip on Paris and the wider Île-de-France region, authorities have triggered the “Plan Grand Froid”, a nationwide emergency measure designed to protect people living on the streets. The activation comes as overnight thermometers dip well below zero, creating life-threatening conditions for thousands of homeless individuals.

Marc Guillaume, the Prefect of Île-de-France, confirmed on Sunday the official launch of the plan, marking a coordinated regional response to the persistent cold snap sweeping northern France.

A Gradual Mobilisation to Face Persistent Cold

The cold weather plan involves the progressive opening of emergency shelters across the Paris region:

Sunday night: 50 spaces for families and women, and another 50 for men were made available.
Monday: an additional 60 places for women opened in the 15th arrondissement’s regional prefecture building.
Throughout the week: further accommodations will be added, including the use of hotels for families and the extension of daytime support centres into overnight shelters.

These efforts bring the total capacity in the region to over 46,000 emergency beds, alongside hundreds of extra places opened specifically for the winter period.

According to Météo-France, temperatures are expected to remain negative overnight and barely exceed 4°C during the day in the coming weeks, prompting concerns of a prolonged cold period.

Tensions Between Paris City Hall and the State

The plan’s activation follows mounting tensions between the Paris City Council and the national government over the timing of the emergency response.

City officials had urged the government as early as Friday to trigger the plan immediately, warning of “a dramatic situation” for thousands of people sleeping rough. In response to perceived government inaction, the City of Paris had independently opened:

6 municipal gymnasiums, sheltering around 800 people per night.
8 additional municipal buildings, accommodating over 600 individuals.

Together, these initiatives offered temporary refuge to nearly 1,400 people, despite the fact that coordinating such efforts typically falls under state responsibility.

Léa Filoche, Deputy Mayor in charge of social affairs, said there was “an urgent need to act” following numerous alerts from outreach teams encountering “people numb with cold” on the streets.

A Growing Humanitarian Challenge

During the most recent “Nuit de la Solidarité” (Night of Solidarity) held in early 2025, volunteers counted over 3,500 people sleeping rough in Paris alone — a stark indicator of the city’s ongoing social emergency.

Île-de-France was among the last regions in the country to activate the cold weather plan, whereas more than 30 departments across France had already done so in the previous week.

The challenge underscores long-standing concerns about France’s capacity to house vulnerable populations, particularly in major urban areas like Paris, where housing costs and social inequalities remain high.

Looking Ahead

As the cold intensifies, coordination between local and national authorities will be essential to prevent further tragedy. NGOs and outreach associations continue to work around the clock, offering blankets, meals, and emergency support to those most at risk.

Beyond the short-term emergency, advocates stress the need for long-term housing policies and increased resources for social services — ensuring that those without shelter in the winter aren’t left behind once the temperatures rise again.