Homelessness in France
According to the country’s government, homelessness in France increased from approximately 93,000 in 2001 to more than 141,000 in 2012.
A French charity also says that at least one person dies every day there as a result of living on the street.
Recently, people criticised the French government for not doing enough to act on the homelessness crisis. The United Nations’ special rapporteur said that there is not enough affordable housing, including social housing for the people who need it.
She also said, ‘evictions into homelessness are strictly prohibited under international law’. She said that France could improve its housing laws, find houses for the poor and stop all forced evictions.
Difficult words: rapporteur (a person who gives reports on something), affordable (less expensive), eviction (throwing someone out from their home).