'Let refugees into your homes' France pleads with citizens to help ease migrant crisis
There are currently 147 reception centres across France, but these are in massive demand as desperate refugees continue to flee the Middle East.
Housing minister Emmanuelle Cosse has pledged to built a further 50 centres before the end of next month in a desperate bid to ease the crisis.
But she has also called on French people to open up their homes to migrants in need. Several organisations have already promised to help.
The group Singa has helped 300 migrants find a temporary home since it launched its 'Calm' scheme last June.
Singa co-director Alice Barbe said: "We match people according to where they live, their job, their hobbies, and the languages they speak.
"If things work out, the migrant will remain in the person's home for a minimum of two weeks, and for up to nine months."
And speaking last year, fellow co-founder Guillaume Capelle said: "We can see that there are four million displaced people.
"Countries like Lebanon are taking in one million people. Here in France, we're taking 24,000 refugees – evidently, that's fairly few in comparison.
"What interests us, however, is ensuring that the people who do arrive here have enough of an opportunity to start a new life."
Last week a peer has called on the Government to show "more humanity and intelligence" to child refugees in Calais' notorious 'Jungle' camp.
Labour's Lord Dubs requested Theresa May's "urgent intervention" in reuniting children living in the camp with their families in the UK.
He added: "They have every legal and moral right to be with their families in the UK. It is shameful they remain stuck in a field, surrounded by strangers."
