Concerns are rising over stagnant housing policies in 2024, with increasing homelessness and inadequate living conditions highlighted in a recent report. The Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged reports a projected rise to 350,000 homeless individuals and alarming statistics regarding deaths and poor housing situations. Initiatives by the government are criticized for being ineffective and inequitable. Additionally, individuals with disabilities face significant barriers in securing housing, exacerbating their challenges in finding suitable accommodations.
Concerns Over Housing Policy in 2024
The indicators of a housing crisis are glaringly evident, yet 2024 has been largely characterized by a stagnant housing policy, according to the Foundation for Housing the Disadvantaged in its latest annual report. The organization criticizes the government’s ‘wait-and-see’ mentality and perceived neglect of pressing housing issues.
This 30th report, which includes a focused section on disability, highlights the ongoing challenges in inadequate housing. The former Abbé Pierre Foundation, recently rebranded following serious allegations against its founder, notes that the absence of a Minister of Housing for seven months has rendered the year ‘almost blank’ in terms of meaningful policy action.
Alarming Statistics on Homelessness and Housing Inequality
The government’s two primary initiatives—an extended zero-interest loan and a temporary exemption from inheritance tax for first-time homebuyers—are deemed ‘questionable’ due to their inequitable and non-ecological nature. The report reveals staggering statistics, including the tragic loss of 735 lives on the streets, with an average age of just 49, marking a twelve-year high.
In 2024, the Foundation projects that the number of homeless individuals will reach 350,000, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous year and a shocking 145% rise since 2012. Additionally, it estimates that 4.2 million people are living in inadequate housing conditions, facing either homelessness or substandard living situations.
As a direct outcome of this crisis, between 5,000 to 8,000 people are denied emergency housing each night due to overcrowding, including 1,000 to 3,000 children. Furthermore, over 100,000 individuals living in informal dwellings were forcibly removed in 2024, signaling a concerning trend towards punitive measures that fail to tackle the root causes of homelessness.
Christophe Robert, the general delegate of the Foundation, pointed out that 2024 saw a worsening construction crisis and a stagnant real estate market. He lamented that economic recovery efforts in the real estate sector have overshadowed the urgent social aspects of housing policy amidst a significant housing crisis.
As demands for social housing continue to soar—approaching 2.8 million households by the end of 2024—the availability of such housing is dwindling, further exacerbating the situation. The authors of the report also highlight a troubling rise in poverty and inequality, noting that in 2023, interventions for unpaid bills surpassed one million for the first time, nearly doubling the figures from 2020.
Additionally, the report raises concerns about cuts to renovation budgets while energy poverty affects around 12 million people, with 30% of households reporting that their homes felt cold last year. The Foundation calls for a decisive shift in approach, urging restoration of action capabilities for HLM organizations to stimulate construction and implement more effective regulations, such as rent control.
A section dedicated to individuals with disabilities reveals a ‘disappointing’ reality, two decades post the major disability law. These individuals face substantial barriers to housing and experience heightened discrimination rates. Manuel Domergue, the director of studies, emphasizes that many landlords reject rental applications from individuals with disabilities, fearing the need for housing adaptations.
He further notes that individuals with disabilities have a 14% lower chance of securing social housing, leading to a situation akin to ‘house arrest’ where finding suitable housing becomes a formidable challenge, complicating their transition from care facilities.