Lille, France

France is a top destination country for asylum seekers in Europe, with around 10,000+ new asylum claims filed each month (OFPRA Rapport d’Activité, 2023). These numbers represent families fleeing war, people targeted by violence due to political or religious beliefs, and individuals escaping torture and oppression because of their gender or sexual orientation. Only around half of these asylum seekers receive social housing, leaving thousands in a precarious state of survival while their case is processed. Those who do stay at designated asylum seeker hostels still face social and emotional isolation due to language barriers, limited transportation, and lack of relational networks. Only ⅓ of asylum requests in France will ultimately receive a positive decision. The door to safety and belonging remains closed to many. Located halfway between Paris (seat of France’s national asylum offices) and Calais (where migrants attempt the deadly Channel crossing to England), Lille is the capital of the Hauts-de-France region, where around 7,000 asylum seekers live (SRADAR, 2024). In addition, Hauts-de-France is the region with the second highest number of asylum requests by unaccompanied minors (La Voix du Nord, 6 juillet 2023). Each year, hundreds of forcibly-displaced men, women, and children find themselves in Lille and its surrounding cities; they struggle with trauma and isolation, navigate complex systems with ingenuity and resilience, and face into an uncertain future.