Ukrainian refugees find shelter in former SNCF workers’ hostel
A new emergency accommodation centre was officially opened in Le Havre on 20 March 2025, providing shelter for around 40 Ukrainian refugees. Housed in a former railway workers' hostel, the space was made available to Mouvement Habitat et Humanisme by SNCF Immobilier, ICF Habitat and local government as part of our broader commitment to solidarity and emergency housing.
Former SNCF hostel repurposed as community shelter
Once a residence for railway workers, the hostel on rue Magellan in Le Havre (Normandy) now houses some 40 Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war. The building is owned by SNCF Voyageurs and has been entrusted to Mouvement Habitat et Humanisme1, a social partner of the SNCF Group since 2020, under a three-year agreement.
After several months of renovation, the emergency shelter opened its doors on 20 March 2025 with a ceremony attended by:
- Jean-Pierre Farandou, Chairman, SNCF Group
- Representatives from Mouvement Habitat et Humanisme, an advocacy group
- State and local government officials and elected representatives
40
Ukrainian refugees offered housing in Le Havre
200
emergency housing places created in disused SNCF hostels since 2020
SNCF Group is France’s
2ⁿᵈ
largest landowner
Housing and helping society’s most vulnerable
The emergency shelter is the fruit of a partnership between Habitat et Humanisme Urgence (HHU), SNCF Immobilier, and local authorities. It includes 40 private rooms, a communal kitchen, shared living spaces, and two offices. Each resident gets tailored support from HHU, including French language classes, help finding housing and work, and more. A dedicated team of highly motivated social workers is backed by much appreciated help from volunteers who also organize cultural and sports activities.
We are very proud of the SNCF Group’s commitment to refugees. The results speak for themselves—40 people housed here in Le Havre, and nearly 200 places created across the country for those in extremely vulnerable situations.
Chairmann SNCF Group
Nationwide partnership
The emergency shelter initiative is part of a nationwide agreement signed on 30 June 2020 by SNCF Immobilier, ICF Habitat and Mouvement Habitat et Humanisme. The goal: transform unused SNCF properties into emergency housing.
The partnership has led to the conversion of a former hostel for railway workers in Nogent-sur-Oise north of Paris, 4 former SNCF homes in Vénissieux, south of Lyon, and three railway workers’ houses in Lyon—all now serve as emergency accommodation.
Since 2020, the three partners have created 200 housing units for people facing extreme hardship.
SNCF Immobilier: a trusted partners for communities
SNCF Immobilier manages and optimizes property totalling 7.7 million sq m, from industrial buildings to offices and social facilities, through two subsidiaries. Espaces Ferroviaire puts land and assets no longer needed by the rail system to use, while ICF Habitat acts as a social landlord and housing manager. With a team of 2,800 employees, SNCF Immobilier works closely with local stakeholders throughout France to support community-focused projects.