Along the Canal Saint-Martin, red tents marked in white paint with the letters "SDF" line the water's edge. They were not distributed by the Médecins du Monde [fr]. They are there as a part of an organized protest to bring attention to the needs of Paris' homeless.

You most likely read about the manifestation in many of yesterday's newspapers [fr]... maybe when comedian Jean Rochefort declared his solidarity [fr] with the protest/ experiment/ personal quest... Or perhaps when police dislodged an encampment of homeless [fr] early Monday morning near Gare d'Austerlitz in the 13e... just three days into winter.

As Paris becomes increasingly expensive [fr], and as it grows cold, two brothers, Augustin Legrand and Jean-Baptiste Legrand, who formed the non-profit association "les Enfants de Don Quichotte [fr]," are trying to lead Paris into a realization about her less fortunate people.

Parisist spent yesterday among the red tents, speaking with those who had no stable shelter, as well as to Augustin Legrand (pictured). His hands roughened and his nails torn -- changed from living outside -- gestures passionately about those Paris homeless that have no hope, and about the high percentage of those with jobs that still can't afford shelter. "You cannot tell they are living on the streets. They look no different than you or me," he states.

Augustin has a wife and child [fr]... And he has a home. But he also has a mission.

As his example of the hardships that can befall anyone, he has been out on the streets for seven weeks in personal protest for the homeless. The more high-profile demonstration began on Saturday [fr]. Video here [fr].

Sickened by the plight of the homeless in Paris, and across France, the two brothers used a few thousand euros of their own money and some donations by their friends to buy almost 100 bright red tents so that those with homes could come out and gain a new perspective.

"For most people, the homeless are just another part of the cityscape, like cars and trees and buildings. People don't give them a second thought," said Jean-Baptiste...

"What we want is for the 'well-housed' to realise the extent of these people's misery," said Augustin... "We want hundreds of thousands of people to come and join us in the streets, to sleep rough alongside the homeless."

Since Saturday's launch, more than 200 people have signed up to stay in the camp, not only to learn about the physical challenges of staying warm or being hungry, but about the fears of being removed by police, and by meeting and talking with those who are less fortunate -- face to face.

Over the last few days, as many as 50 homeless have also come to the encampment, needing shelter and finding comfort in the food (soups, bread, cheeses, and water) and company that volunteers and concerned citizens have brought to the area since the media attention began.

Those who are participating in the "camp in" as a demonstration and those who are homeless mingle and blend in together, making it difficult to discern as to whom is in which situation.

With the assistance of photographer Pierre-Hervé Vérant (related post here), Parisist also spoke with Eric, who spends his time between being on the streets of Paris and in a pallet-made shelter outside of the city. Eric had a wife and child, but fell homeless after his marriage ended. He told us that he hopes the demonstration will change politician's minds about the homeless situation, and that they will begin to find solutions to help.

There may be some hope for that. Welcome or not, Presidential candidate and current Minister of the Interior "Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to visit the homeless campsite this week, after having declared last night at a speech in the Ardennes that in two years, no one will be sleeping on the street at all." The media and celebrity attention has also begun more discussion and awareness across Paris.

"'Nous allons faire l'hiver 2006 comme l'abbé Pierre a fait l'hiver 54', clame Augustin. 'Nous ne bougerons pas tant que les politiciens n'auront pas réellement bougé. Les flics peuvent essayer de nous déloger (sic), tout le monde se jettera dans le canal. Un gars finira peut-être par crever de froid sous sa tente,' he pledges [fr].

Augustin and his team have gathered the homeless' testimonies while he's spent time with them out on the streets. View many of the personal accounts in French via video on les Enfants de Don Quichotte [fr]. (The videos are also here on Daily Motion [fr].)

You can also check out this video of the Canal Saint-Martin's tent village here, via their site:

What do you think of the demonstration? Do you think it will help bring change? Would you volunteer to spend the night in one of the tents? Or do you disagree with the approach?

Photos by rion.nu.