Description
Le Pari Solidaire is a Paris association that places young people under 30 in the homes of people aged 60 or more, in Paris and Île-de-France. The young person gets a room for a small contribution and keeps the host company, and the host goes on living at home with someone around.
It was founded in 2004, after the 2003 heatwave had shown how many older Parisians lived alone. Since 2011 it has been part of Groupe SOS Seniors, the branch for older people of a large French social-economy group. It belongs to the Cohabilis network, has held Cohabilis’s COEXIST label since 2021 and counts more than 5,000 cohabitations.
The site publishes no prices (checked November 2026). In an interview, its director gave contributions of 90 to 350 € a month depending on the arrangement, and the CIDJ also mentions studios of 28 m² in social housing buildings for 400 € a month. Young people apply online. Seniors call the association or fill in a form, and the team visits them at home before a first meeting with a candidate. The office is at 102B rue Amelot, in the 11th arrondissement.
Strengths
- Contributions from about 90 € a month are far below Paris rents, and the arrangement is covered by a contract under the 2018 ELAN law.
- The team meets both sides and visits the senior at home before matching them, so each knows what to expect.
- Being part of Groupe SOS gives the association paid staff and a stability that many small cohabitation charities lack.
Weaknesses
- Demand far exceeds supply: the CIDJ reports 500 to 600 applications for about 100 cohabitations.
- It covers only Paris and Île-de-France; Le Pari Solidaire Lyon is a separate association.
- The young person doesn’t replace a home help, and some hosts mainly want errands done, which can strain the arrangement.
Who it is for
Students and young workers under 30 looking for a cheap room in Paris, and Parisians over 60 with a spare room who would like someone at home in the evening.