Paris has requisitioned the Gymnase Montherlant to house approximately 150 migrants [1].

The move highlights ongoing tensions between city-wide emergency housing needs and local district administrations over the distribution of resources. Jérémy Redler, mayor (LR) of the 16th arrondissement, said he criticized the selection process for these sites.

The requisition of the gymnasium has been in place since May 6, 2024 [1]. Redler said the process appears to unfairly target specific areas of the city.

"It is always the same districts that are concerned," Redler said [2].

The mayor suggested that his district is not only frequently requested for such purposes but is also subject to unfair perceptions. He said, "I have the impression that some districts are sometimes more concerned than others. I think I am very often solicited and also caricatured" [2].

While the Gymnase Montherlant serves roughly 150 people [1], other facilities in the city follow similar patterns. For example, the Gymnase Fédération in the 15th arrondissement has been used to house about 100 migrants [3].

Redler's comments reflect a broader frustration with how the city manages temporary shelters amid a wider crisis of migrant accommodation. The use of sports facilities as makeshift dormitories often displaces local athletic activities, a point of contention for district leaders managing community spaces.

“"It is always the same districts that are concerned,"”

The dispute underscores the political friction in Paris regarding 'territorial equity.' By claiming that a few districts bear a disproportionate share of the city's migrant housing burden, Mayor Redler is highlighting a perceived lack of solidarity among the various arrondissements in addressing a systemic humanitarian challenge.