Following the decision from the French Government to confine the population, all providers of social housing took measures to allow for service continuity while limiting drastically human interactions. They are mobilized, with their partners, to not interrupt or disrupt the allocation of social housing (around 35 000 lodgings each month). The COVID-19 will have a major economic impact on the population and the providers of social housing will look at the individual situations of tenants and those getting access to property. It was already decided to postpone all evictions.
Providers of social housing are also often landlords for many small businesses at ground floor levels of residential buildings. They will, should the need arise, suspend the payment of rents for all business owners being forced to close shop. With more than 17 Billion of investments realized each year in France, including 3,2 billion euros dedicated exclusively to maintenance, all providers of social housing are conscious of their responsibilities.
They call for organizations to shorten drastically payment delays notably for SMEs and crafts. In this exceptional context, they have requested from the French government to postpone the major Government planned reform of benefits’ management, which includes housing allowances. This reform was initially planned for the beginning of April 2020. The implementation of this major reform, which will impact millions of social housing tenants, will necessitate considerable technical means and careful planning. The present situation does not allow for a safe and secured rolling-out of this reform for next April.
Website: www.union-habitat.org/