The emergency night shelter on the Rue de l'Industrie in Montpellier closed on October 1st, and the decision continues to spark debate. On October 6th, the topic of housing for homeless people was brought up during a municipal council meeting. Hervé Martin, a member of the Communist Party (PCF) and part of the majority in the council, introduced a motion calling on the State to reconsider the closure of the Coallia center and the reduction of hotel accommodation places. The motion aims to preserve and enhance Montpellier’s capacity to provide housing for the homeless and ensure that local organizations have the resources needed to carry out their work. Martin emphasized that emergency housing is primarily the responsibility of the State. He pointed out that both the city and the metropolitan area participate in programs such as "Housing First" and "Lease First," which prioritize providing stable housing to homeless individuals. These initiatives, he said, have helped over 600 people in Montpellier leave the streets. Martin strongly opposed comments made recently by Chantal Mauchet, the prefect of the Hérault department, who suggested a "rationalization" of emergency housing. Mauchet noted that nearly 2,600 emergency housing places were funded by the State in the region, with a budget close to 30 million euros. Martin rejected the idea of rationalizing poverty, insisting that emergency housing should be provided unconditionally. "When a person is on the street, our first collective responsibility is to provide them with shelter," he stated. The debate took place against a heavy backdrop of tragedy. Antoine Bertrand, an opposition councilor from the Left Find the Way (LFI) party, recalled the deaths of two homeless individuals. Michaël, 32, was found dead on September 27 in a makeshift shelter near the Saint-Lazare cemetery, and Mohamed, 33, died shortly afterward. Bertrand also highlighted data from local organizations, stating that approximately 2,000 people live on the streets in Montpellier, including nearly 150 children. He noted that 85% of housing requests made to the 115 helpline—France's national emergency number for homelessness—remain unsolved. The council meeting underscored the deepening crisis of homelessness in the city and the growing divide over how to address it.