Béatrice has a married son she hasn't heard of in years; a former apartment building concierge, she can't find any work because too old (at 54!) and the lack of a "fixed residence". OPAC (Public Housing office) won't find her and her friend any housing because "they ask for a deposit first and you need money for that."
Thanks for the link, BTW. Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.
