On February 1, the Abbé Pierre Foundation (FAP) presented its 28th Report on the State of Substandard Housing.
The report highlights a critical situation, with a rise in the number of people affected by substandard housing and a widening of housing inequalities. More than 5.5 million people are affected by substandard housing in France in 2022, representing a 20% increase over five years. This amounts to 1 in 12 French people.
Among those affected by substandard housing, nearly 1.2 million people are homeless or living in emergency shelters. The number of people living in overcrowded housing has increased by 13% over the past five years, reaching 1.7 million in 2022.
The number of people living in substandard housing is also on the rise, with a 40% increase over the past five years. In 2022, it is estimated that there are 700,000 such people in France.
People living in substandard housing spend, on average, nearly half of their income on housing. This situation affects nearly 3.8 million households in France.
The report also highlights that the COVID-19 health crisis has exacerbated housing inequalities, particularly for those in the most vulnerable situations.
“When it comes to housing, being a man or a woman—or belonging to a sexual minority—significantly affects the likelihood of experiencing various aspects of poor housing conditions and fundamentally alters the very nature of that experience,” explains the FAP.
Against the backdrop of a tense economic and social climate this year, the issue of gender has been placed at the center of this 28th report.
Women account for a significant proportion of those affected by substandard housing, with nearly 3 million women living in substandard housing in France in 2022.
Women are more vulnerable to energy poverty than men, largely due to their employment status and income.
Often, they find themselves forced to live with their abuser(s) in unsuitable, unsanitary, or overcrowded housing. The report thus highlights that the health crisis has exacerbated domestic violence due to difficult living conditions.
Finally, they are also more likely to experience poverty and social exclusion, which can make it difficult for them to find decent, affordable housing.
In light of this alarming situation, steps must be taken to ensure that all citizenshave access to decent and safe housing. The Abbé Pierre Foundation’s report shows that the housing crisis is a complex problem that requires an urgent and coordinated response from all stakeholders.
The proposals outlined in this report offer concrete ways to improve the current situation and provide a more positive outlook for the future for all French citizens.