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January 03, 2007

Offered Without Comment

...as I'm still gasping for air.

French politicians are loath to admit they have anything to learn from other countries, particularly on social policy. But Dominique de Villepin, prime minister, on Wednesday conceded that Paris had copied Scotland's legally enforceable right to housing, as he promised to introduce a similar measure in France.

The law would allow homeless people to sue public authorities and force them to provide accommodation. It follows an assertive campaign by homeless associations that has pushed a growing public concern up the political agenda four months before France's presidential elections.

...Jacques Chirac, France's president, promised a right to housing in his new year's speech last weekend, winning some praise but raising questions over why he waited until his twelfth year as president to take action.

...Mr Sarkozy, the campaign's only self-proclaimed economic liberal, has been peppering recent speeches with more socially conscious policy ideas. At his latest rally he promised to house anyone who did not want to be homeless within two years.

...The Insee statistics agency puts the number of French homeless at 86,500. This suggests the issue is being exaggerated in a country of 60m, compared with the 40,000 homeless recorded among Scotland's 5m residents.

But the Abbé Pierre foundation says the French figures, based on data from soup kitchens and hostels in 2001, exclude thousands who live in hotels, caravans, tents, sub-let or live with friends. It estimates there are 934,000 French people without their own home.


Posted by tree hugging sister at January 3, 2007 01:57 PM

Comments

LOL - They are sliding down the chute to Civic-Hell so fast its mind boggling. Give them Kelo and eminent domain too!! Hahahaha!

Posted by: DirtCrashr at January 3, 2007 02:35 PM

Now wait just a damn minute. I thought there was no homelessness in the socialist Eurotopia. Did all those lefties lie to me?

Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at January 3, 2007 02:45 PM

Shortly after the scheme is launched, will there be an inquiry to make sure the housing hasn't been constructed with "racist" materials that could offend Muslims?

Posted by: Emily at January 3, 2007 03:33 PM

Well, I'm gonna sue, I just haven't picked out the crib I want yet. Soon as I find it, I'll be living in the Commando Wagon for the week it takes to file the paperwork.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at January 3, 2007 05:52 PM

Great - so they can sue for a flat, but they're not allowed any soup once they get there.

Posted by: Nightfly at January 3, 2007 05:59 PM