These bosses leave their premises to the homeless during the night!

The Bureaux du Cœur association based in Nantes invites business leaders to host homeless individuals in their premises at night and on weekends. We had the opportunity to discuss the association with its founder Pierre-Yves Loäec, director of the communication agency Nobilito and president of the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD).

How did this association come to be? 

First of all, he states that he is "attached to humanist values" such as respect, hospitality, openness, and mutual aid. On his way to work, he regularly saw a homeless woman sleeping day and night in the parking lot where he parked. 

Thus, an idea popped into his head! He thought he could open his offices to her, which are equipped and heated at night. 

" Starting from the observation that offices are partially heated in the evening and on weekends and that they are equipped with kitchens and sanitary facilities (toilets, sinks, often a shower), it was only natural that the leaders of CJD Nantes wanted to welcome people in precarious situations into their premises once they are no longer in use. ” – Pierre-Yves Loäec

He talked about it with his colleagues at the Centre des jeunes dirigeants to get their perspectives. Convinced by this supportive and human approach, they in turn joined the adventure. 

Then came all the legal and social procedures required to host homeless individuals. He contacted specialized associations, which very favorably welcomed this initiative. "Associations often have infrastructure to take care of the homeless during the day, but at night they lack beds," "it is a mutually beneficial exchange." The association was thus created and launched at the end of 2019.