One only has to spend an afternoon walking through the Opéra district of Paris - the pantheon of luxury shopping - to witness the high level of squalid depravation still existent on the streets of France's capital. The remarkable juxtaposition becomes apparent within the first 20 minutes; an abundance of haut-de-gamme boutiques selling products for the same amount that could supply the homeless family - sat forlornly next to the entrance of the Galeries Lafayettes - with shelter and food for at least 3 months. So where has such a polar divide in wealth stemmed from? Firstly, one can look to Paris' geographical position in the context of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria. Being so close to countries in which a large number of travellers reside and travel through, Paris has become the central target in the search for a slice of wealth to promote one's survival. However, Paris' location on the map cannot be the only factor with which to circumscribe the issue. Another aspect integral to the debate is the sheer number of tourists that flock to the city so renowned for its romance and luxor. A majority of Paris' big spenders come from the upper echalons of wealth stemming from both the orient and occident. Wealthy businessmen, middle-class families, oligarchic inheritors and diplomats from the likes of the US, UK, China, Russia and the Qatar choose to regularly invest or spend large amounts in the capital. Inevitably, this contributes to a perception from travellers that Paris is teeming with philanthropic, financially liberal holiday-makers and benefactors ready to part with their money for what is - as far as appearances go - a worthy cause. So how can france begin to solve this pandemic? Above all, one must look to France's welfare system in order to better understand the raised level of homelessness. Despite the gains made in controlling immigration and curbing opportunities for abuse of the system, French welfare policy poses problems that result in a gradual build up of homeless asylum seekers. The French are fairly ambivalent as far as their welfare system is concerned; on the one hand, you have those who adore the system as an enshrined insurance-based framework which contains endless advantages for French nationals. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are those more liberal who denounce the system for failing to provide for ex-pats, asylum seekeers and immigrants in need of health care or insurance services. The point in highlighting the welfare system is that one can see a correlation emerging between decreased access to welfare for asylum seekers and increased levels of homelessness. The strict regulations within the welfare framework may indeed succeed in minimising system abuse, however, they simultaneously succeed in increasing the numbers of those lacking shelter, food and perhaps most pressingly, health care. French policing and federal repsonse is a third factor worth considering when attempting to understand why the number of homeless people is persistently high. UK legislation makes it very difficult for the homeless to reside on the street for a prolonged period of time, especially those with young infants. What prevails in the UK is therefore a higher success rate with regards to finding shelter and improving the situation of those lacking a roof over their heads. One thus appreciates the extent to which the UK judicial model is instrumental in decreasing levels of homelessness and street poverty. In France, on the contrary, the policing of the homeless is unpredictable and generally lax. With no specific legislation concerning homelessness or begging, or at least no consistent federal practice, those living under shop facades, in metro stations or in parks are often left to fester and pejorate. Living in Paris, it is far too commonplace to see a gendarme, transport or municipal police turn a blind eye at the homeless family he or she strolls past. The result is an increase in the attitude that sleeping on the streets and pleading for spare change is accepted by the law. Another remarkable policing practice is the imprisonment or fining of those selling secondary market goods - fruits, vegetables, umbrellas, model eiffel towers etc. - as a means of bettering their situation. This kind of policing sheds light upon a contradictory federal system that rarely bats an eyelid at a street dweller in need of care, but is impressively rapid in its response to those selling goods without a license to fund their basic human needs. Finally, it is also worth noting the surprising lack of schemes in france for those unfortunate enough to be residing on the streets. A system like The Big Issue in London is something France could take lessons from; it gives the homeless an opportunity to pay for their food, drink and shelter, in addition to providing them with a sense of being an appreciated member of the community, rather than a marginalised anomaly. Conclusively, there are 4 aspects that contribute significantly to homelessness in France's capital, three of which can be actively ameliorated by changes to policy, policing and legislation: The geographic location as an easy target for travellers and asylum seekers, the welfare system in the context of immigrants and refugees, police effectiveness regarding treatment of the homeless and finally, the absence of opportunities such as The Big Issue which are prominent in the UK. In essence, France need to do much more to tackle the poverty that lies just under the glittering surface of the luxurious postcard splendor.