France’s emergency migrant housing system is under immense pressure, with costs soaring above €500 million annually and a record 98 percent occupancy rate.
The French Office for Immigration and Integration (OFII), which manages the system, has about 114,000 reception places. Yet, these spots are essentially full, leading to a hefty bill for hotel nights—€525 million in 2022 alone. This sharp rise in costs comes even though the number of available spots has doubled since 2017, from 62,000 to 114,000.
The country is relying more on hotel rooms for migrant housing, much like Germany and the UK. The Court of Auditors has criticized this dependence on subsidized associations and hotel accommodations, urging a shift to “sustainable housing” to curb costs.
Concerns are growing about the future, as migration flows into France show no sign of slowing. Administrative delays in asylum processing and difficulties in deporting rejected applicants are further straining the system. The situation in Syria, following Bashar al-Assad’s collapse, is raising fears of another influx, while more Lebanese migrants are arriving due to Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.
Jean-Paul Gourévitch, a French academic, estimates that migration costs France at least €25 billion annually. He notes a significant divide among economists on the financial impact, with some estimating a deficit of up to €44 billion. Despite promises from President Emmanuel Macron to reduce migration pressures, France welcomed 600,000 migrants in 2022, a record high. Furthermore, studies have revealed that 80 percent of migrants claiming to be minors are actually adults.
