SAINT-ANDRÉ-DES-EAUX, France — August 27, 2026 — An Albanian family with six children was evicted from the home where they had lived for eight years in Saint-André-des-Eaux on Thursday morning, amid growing concerns from supporters that the family could be left without accommodation.
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| Jovani and Elisabeta Lazaj, whose Albanian family with six children was evicted from their home in Saint-André-des-Eaux after eight years following the rejection of their asylum application. |
At around 7:30 a.m., approximately 15 gendarmerie units arrived in the area, including officers from the Surveillance and Intervention Platoon (PSIG). Around 40 supporters had gathered near the property in support of the family.
The accommodation had been provided by the municipality and was managed by the association Solidarité Estuaire.
Albanian Family Evicted After Eight Years in France
The Lazaj family had been living in the property for eight years. Although they were aware that they would eventually have to leave the emergency accommodation for asylum seekers, known as HUDA, supporters said they had hoped authorities would find an alternative housing solution.
That solution had not been secured by the time of the eviction.
Danielle Estay, a member of the Lévéra farm’s AMAP in La Madeleine de Guérande and the collective Unis contre une immigration jetable (UCIJ), said the family had received regular assistance from local charities and supporters.
“Every week we brought them a basket of vegetables,” Estay said.
She added that the family had been living largely with assistance from Restos du Cœur and Secours populaire.
“We Don’t Know Where the Family Will Sleep Tonight”
The immediate concern following the eviction was the family’s accommodation.
Marie-Elisabeth Allaire, from the UCIJ collective, said the emergency housing service had been contacted but that no solution had yet been confirmed.
“We are worried because 115 has been contacted, but we have received no response,” Allaire said. “We don’t know where the family will sleep tonight.”
The French emergency accommodation number 115 is used to request emergency shelter, making the absence of a confirmed response particularly significant for a family with six children.
The case has therefore moved beyond the question of the eviction itself and toward an urgent humanitarian issue: whether the family can obtain immediate shelter after losing its accommodation.
Supporters Meet With Saint-André-des-Eaux Officials
While a locksmith worked to close and secure the property, representatives of Solidarité Estuaire and supporters of the Lazaj family were received at the Saint-André-des-Eaux town hall.
The meeting was intended to explore possible housing arrangements for the family.
The supporters' presence reflected broader concerns among local associations over what happens to asylum-seeking families after their accommodation ends, particularly when no alternative shelter has been identified.
The eviction itself reportedly took place without confrontation or incident.
Other Families Could Face Similar Evictions
Supporters also warned that the Lazaj family's situation could be part of a wider pattern in the Saint-Nazaire area.
According to Enoch Arthur, three other families in the area could face similar eviction procedures.
One family reportedly left its accommodation in Savenay on Wednesday, August 26, while two other cases are expected to be addressed in Pontchâteau on Friday, August 28.
The developments have prompted concern among local support groups about the availability of emergency accommodation for families affected by rejected asylum applications.
For the Lazaj family, however, the most immediate issue is not the legal procedure but what comes next.
After eight years in the same home, Jovani and Elisabeta Lazaj and their six children have been forced to leave — with supporters saying they still do not know where the family will spend the night.