Foundation Abbé Pierre Faces 30% Drop in Donations Following Sexual Abuse Revelations

The organization warns of reduced aid for vulnerable populations as it plans a name change to distance itself from its founder's misconduct.

Donations to the Foundation Abbé Pierre have fallen by 30% from July to November 2024 compared to the same period last year, attributed to revelations of sexual abuse allegations against its late founder.
The foundation relies on public donations for 97% of its funding, which supports 800-900 housing projects annually for people in precarious living conditions.
Christophe Robert, the foundation's general delegate, has called for an urgent increase in donations to avoid scaling back critical aid efforts for the homeless and poorly housed.
In response to the scandal, the foundation is preparing to change its name and has already removed Abbé Pierre's image from its logo, with formal announcements expected in January 2025.
An independent commission and the Catholic Church are investigating how the abuse, reportedly occurring between the 1950s and 2000s, went unaddressed during Abbé Pierre's lifetime.