Grand Froid Plan Activated in Paris and Île-de-France to Protect Homeless Amid Freezing Temperatures

The Grand Froid cold weather emergency plan was activated on December 28, 2025, in Paris and the Île-de-France region to protect thousands of homeless individuals as temperatures are expected to drop below zero at night and remain below 4°C during the day.

The activation followed urgent appeals from the Paris city hall, which described the situation for homeless populations as "dramatic," prompting the regional prefecture to act based on forecasts from Météo-France predicting continued sub-zero nighttime temperatures. Several departments across Île-de-France, including Hauts-de-Seine and Seine-Saint-Denis, also implemented the plan concurrently.

The comprehensive Grand Froid plan extends the operating hours of daytime shelters, increases outreach efforts, and authorizes the requisition of additional spaces for emergency accommodation. Currently, Paris maintains 46,200 year-round shelter places, supplemented by 300 winter-season beds and 200 newly mobilized spots in recent days. As part of the expanded measures, Paris will open new shelter beds and specially designated halls, with some daytime shelters converting to night shelters for enhanced protection.

Notably, starting Monday, 60 isolated women will be accommodated at the regional prefecture's facilities. In Seine-Saint-Denis, a gymnasium has been prepared to shelter 60 individuals, complementing the 35 hotel rooms made available in recent days. The prefecture is also providing hotel rooms for families to ensure vulnerable groups have secure options amid the cold snap.

This activation reflects a coordinated response to the persisting cold wave, with over thirty French departments now implementing the Grand Froid plan to safeguard homeless and at-risk populations against the severe winter conditions.

Quotes from officials emphasized the gravity of the situation: the Paris mayor’s office characterized it as "dramatic," underscoring the urgent necessity to protect those living on the streets. The prefecture’s proactive steps aim to mitigate risks posed by freezing nights and chilly days forecast by Météo-France.