A new report has shed light on a hidden dimension of France’s housing emergency, revealing that hundreds of thousands are living in unstable and often oppressive conditions due to a lack of alternatives.
A “Black Year” for Housing Rights
The Foundation for Housing (formerly the Abbé Pierre Foundation) published its 31st annual report on poor housing conditions in France, describing the current situation as a “black year.” The report states that all indicators are flashing red, pointing to severe issues with access to housing, substandard living conditions, and economic hardship.
The foundation estimates that 1.1 million people lack a personal home. This includes 350,000 with no stable domicile—precariously housed in shelters or hotels, including 40,000 who are homeless. A further 600,000 people are victims of an “invisible” form of poor housing: they are “forced to be housed by third parties.”
The Hidden Reality of “Private Solidarity”
This “little-known facet of poor housing” encompasses diverse situations, often arising from a lack of resources or autonomous housing. It includes:
- Young adults living with family members.
- Individuals after a relationship breakdown who remain with an ex-partner.
- Young people leaving state childcare systems.
- Ukrainian, Syrian, and Gazan exiles.
- People with disabilities.
Official data cited in the report shows that living with non-parental third parties increased by 13% between 2013 and 2020. The phenomenon’s invisibility is attributed to its informal and often transient nature.
Personal Toll: Instability, Exhaustion, and Conflict
The report emphasizes that this arrangement is an acute form of poor housing, raising serious questions about rights, protection, and quality of life. Personal testimonies illustrate the human cost.
Shérazade, a 47-year-old single mother, has been rotating between the homes of three friends with her three children every three weeks for over two years. “We no longer have a family life, or stability… It’s more than exhausting,” she told AFP. Despite being recognized as a priority for social housing nine years ago, she is still waiting.
Mohammed, a 35-year-old cleaner, has lived in his aunt’s home for six years. “I don’t have any privacy,” he said, describing the difficulty of sleeping after night shifts with children in the house. “I’m not on the street, but I’m struggling.”
The situation can also become abusive. Adrien, 22, described a six-month stay with a childhood friend that turned hostile, with false accusations and a lack of respect. Data from the Paris Samusocial cited in the report confirms this trend, showing that over 28% of people in such arrangements faced insults or humiliation from their host in the past year, and a similar percentage faced threats of eviction.
Calls for Action
The Foundation for Housing is calling for urgent public policy action to address the crisis. Key recommendations include:
- A major revival in the construction of social housing, particularly very small, affordable units and student housing.
- Improved reception and support for exiled people to facilitate their access to rights, rather than pushing them into precarious situations.
The report serves as a stark warning that France’s housing crisis is deepening, forcing a growing number of citizens into invisible and vulnerable living situations.
