On Wednesday 8 October the Foundation launched a new large-scale project, “2000 toits pour 2000 familles” (2000 roofs for 2000 families), since the authorities have failed to come up with an adequate response to the housing crisis.

Today, impoverished households spend 15% of their revenue on energy. What is more, tenants and destitute owners often live in old buildings that consume a lot more energy.

Little or no insulation, old electric or gas heaters and oil furnaces... there are many situations that explain the growing poverty of individuals and families already in financial difficulty. It is estimated that a total of 5 million households in France are impoverished due to energy costs!

Once again, the Foundation suggests the financing of housing for the most destitute, focusing particularly on:

Economical housing,

A dwelling involves more than paying rent, it also means paying charges directly linked to rising energy costs. Increasingly expensive, it is hitting households of modest income the hardest.

The Foundation considers it critical to help people maintain their dwelling without financial difficulty, by combining an adapted rent with energy expenses that are reduced as much as possible (heating, electricity, hot water, etc.).

Integrated in the local fabric,

The acquisition and improvement of dwellings in cooperative housing is one of the means favoured by the Foundation.

It makes it possible to create social housing rental units that are fully integrated in the local fabric, to respond to local needs that are clearly identified and to reinforce social diversity in cities and neighbourhoods.

and the Pensions de Famille

The Pensions de Famille are a special kind of long-term housing for people who are alone and who, for various personal reasons, do not have access to “regular” housing.

The Pension offers a dwelling combining private (autonomous flats) and collective spaces that provide both independence and conviviality.

For the Foundation, each Pension de Famille should not exceed 20 places, in order to help maintain autonomy for the individual and still provide a social link among all the residents.

A Pension de Famille must never be considered a place to consign people outside of normal society.