The number of people in extreme poverty in France increased 37% between 2018 and 2025, while housing precariousness fired 62%, indicated the non-governmental organization (NGO) Remains du Coeur.
© Lusa
05/10/2026
by
Lusa
O report, prepared by five researchers in the economy of Europe and the United States, examined the evolution of extreme poverty based on the data of that organisation.
Researchers monitored the cases of around 5.5 million people supported by the organization between 2018 and 2025.
According to the study, one in 200 people in France live on the street or without their own housing. Among the people supported by Restos du Coeur, 50% live in urban centres, compared to 30% of the French population in general.
Researchers estimate that inflation explains 52% of the increase in the number of homeless people registered since 2018.
Children are among the groups most affected by housing precariousness, with children between 0 and 9 years of age representing about 25% of people in this situation in the analyzed data, compared to 10% in the general population.
Single-parent families are also over-represented. In 2024-2025, 23% of the families supported by Restos du Coeur were single parents and half of the beneficiaries were under 25.
The study identifies unemployment and housing availability as factors closely related to the risk of falling into situations of extreme poverty.
According to the estimates presented, a 10% increase in the unemployment rate is associated with an increase of approximately the same magnitude in the number of homeless and in a situation of food insecurity, while remaining constant the other factors.
On the other hand, a 10% increase in the supply of housing per inhabitant would be associated with a reduction of about 8% in the number of homeless people.
The authors argue that these policies can be particularly effective in preventing households from falling into extreme poverty.
However, they warn that when precariousness is prolonged in time, it becomes more difficult to reverse it.
The report also points out that one in ten people may need to use food aid over the next decade, which, according to the authors, underlines the importance of acting before precariousness becomes a permanent situation.