France's housing crisis: Even more catastrophic in Île-de-France - France Bleu.

The entire real estate market in the Ile-de-France region is at a standstill - buying, renting, getting public housing. The president of France's National Union of Housing Operators warns on Radio France Bleu Paris of an "unprecedented situation" and calls for a "general mobilization" by the state and local authorities.

"The situation is unprecedented because never before have there been so many people wanting housing and so little social housing stock," says Emmanuel Coss, president of France's National Union of Housing Operators, which provides housing for one in six of the country's residents. However, the former housing minister, above all, is faced with waiting lists that are only lengthening, with double''an increase in the number of housing applicants in the Ile-de-France region over 13 years (783,000 applicants). "In Ile-de-France, the situation is even more catastrophic. Ile-de-France used to be a leader in housing production, launching up to 36,000 homes in some years, and now we don't know if we can launch 20,000 this year. "

"Who are the challengers? "

"It's mostly workers who can't find housing in the private sector. In twenty years, rents have risen by 56% and wages by only a third," emphasizes Emmanuelle Coss, lamenting that workers increasingly have to live away from their jobs in the region.

"The government should announce a general mobilization "

'The government should declare an alert and a general mobilization.''The regional prefect, along with all housing stakeholders, should have ongoing meetings every 15 days to review current programs, what's standing still, what can be done.'" Koss calls for more housing to be built, believing that the state and local governments are not doing enough.

The land problem? In Ile-de-France, the land opportunities are "enormous", assures the president of the French National Union of Housing Operators and former housing minister. A problem of budgetary funding? Some''Mayors demand the renewal of the housing tax to create housing. "The question arises," says Emmanuelle Coss.

The issues are multifaceted: purchases are on hold due to the constant rise in lending rates, renters do not want to leave their homes, and the rental housing market is shrinking due to furnished tourist facilities and the instability associated with the Olympic Games, Emmanuelle Coss is concerned. "The recommendation to allow these residents of France to have such deplorable living conditions is a price that everyone will have to pay. "