HLM
Encyclopedia
HLM French
for "housing at moderated rents" or "rent-controlled housing
", is a form of subsidised housing in France
. There are approximately four million such residences, housing an estimated 12 million people — nearly one-fifth of the population of France. HLM's constitute 40-50% of all rented
housing in France, and annual government subsidies to the tenants and constructors of HLM residences run to hundreds of millions of euro
s (according to Cour des Comptes, the figure in 1992 was 5.43 billion franc
s — about 830 million euro
s). The standard of living in the HLM housing projects is among the lowest in the country. The projects have become inhabited by a high proportion of people of North
and West Africa
n descent, and many of the complexes suffer from high crime rates.
s, the rural exodus
that had started to take place in France — directed mainly at Île-de-France
, the region around Paris
— and the baby boom
, together contributed to a deficit of an estimated four million residences. Eugène Claudius-Petit, the Minister for Reconstruction and Urbanisation, promoted a scheme of massive construction of socially subsidised residences to address this problem. The new system took its foundations from the HBM ( ("inexpensive housing") system which had been created in 1889 and financed mainly by charitable sources
rather than the state
.
The level of social construction did not significantly rise until minister Pierre Courant
launched an ambitious plan in 1956, warranted by the increased rate of immigration
from France's former colonies
(most notably Algeria
). Courant's plan had the goal of construction of at least 240,000 residences each year, and it was an unexpected success — from 1956 on, there were more than 300,000 new residences built annually, with a good number of them HLM — in 1964, there were 95,000 new HLM apartments. The residences were often constructed in large complexes, by ("the way of the crane"). The new, large apartment buildings were perfectly rectangular, so as to allow a crane
to roll along a track and place components on both sides of the building simultaneously, saving both time and effort.
The greatest increase in the number of HLM's came in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when a great number of planned communities
, or ZUP (: "priority urbanisation zones") were constructed. These were built mostly in the suburbs of Paris
. A total of 195 ZUP were created, producing over two million new, mostly HLM, residences.
The emphasis shifted to improving the standard of living in the residences already in existence — in 1968, for example, only 41% of the HLM apartments had toilet and sanitary facilities. By the end of the 1970s, this figure had risen to about 80%. New HLM sites with more rooms per residence were built in smaller cities and towns, and numerous programmes were launched to combat poverty
, unemployment
and crime
in the ZUP communities. In 2001, each HLM residence had, on average, 2.4 persons living in it (compared to 3.2 in 1954), four rooms (three in 1954), and 96% of all HLM apartments had toilet and sanitary facilities, whereas the figure in 1954 was only 10%.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
for "housing at moderated rents" or "rent-controlled housing
Rent control
Rent control refers to laws or ordinances that set price controls on the renting of residential housing. It functions as a price ceiling.Rent control exists in approximately 40 countries around the world...
", is a form of subsidised housing in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. There are approximately four million such residences, housing an estimated 12 million people — nearly one-fifth of the population of France. HLM's constitute 40-50% of all rented
Renting
Renting is an agreement where a payment is made for the temporary use of a good, service or property owned by another. A gross lease is when the tenant pays a flat rental amount and the landlord pays for all property charges regularly incurred by the ownership from landowners...
housing in France, and annual government subsidies to the tenants and constructors of HLM residences run to hundreds of millions of euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s (according to Cour des Comptes, the figure in 1992 was 5.43 billion franc
French franc
The franc was a currency of France. Along with the Spanish peseta, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra . Between 1360 and 1641, it was the name of coins worth 1 livre tournois and it remained in common parlance as a term for this amount of money...
s — about 830 million euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s). The standard of living in the HLM housing projects is among the lowest in the country. The projects have become inhabited by a high proportion of people of North
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n descent, and many of the complexes suffer from high crime rates.
History
The HLM system was created in 1950 in response to France's post-war housing crisis. The low level of construction during and between the two world warWorld war
A world war is a war affecting the majority of the world's most powerful and populous nations. World wars span multiple countries on multiple continents, with battles fought in multiple theaters....
s, the rural exodus
Rural exodus
Rural flight is a term used to describe the migratory patterns of peoples from rural areas into urban areas.In modern times, it often occurs in a region following the industrialization of agriculture when fewer people are needed to bring the same amount of agricultural output to market and related...
that had started to take place in France — directed mainly at Île-de-France
Île-de-France (région)
Île-de-France is the wealthiest and most populated of the twenty-two administrative regions of France, composed mostly of the Paris metropolitan area....
, the region around Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
— and the baby boom
Baby boom
A baby boom is any period marked by a greatly increased birth rate. This demographic phenomenon is usually ascribed within certain geographical bounds and when the number of annual births exceeds 2 per 100 women...
, together contributed to a deficit of an estimated four million residences. Eugène Claudius-Petit, the Minister for Reconstruction and Urbanisation, promoted a scheme of massive construction of socially subsidised residences to address this problem. The new system took its foundations from the HBM ( ("inexpensive housing") system which had been created in 1889 and financed mainly by charitable sources
Charity (virtue)
In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
rather than the state
Sovereign state
A sovereign state, or simply, state, is a state with a defined territory on which it exercises internal and external sovereignty, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood to be a state which is neither...
.
The level of social construction did not significantly rise until minister Pierre Courant
Pierre Courant
Pierre Courant was a French politician. He belonged first to the Independent Republicans and then to the National Centre of Independents and Peasants ....
launched an ambitious plan in 1956, warranted by the increased rate of immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
from France's former colonies
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
(most notably Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
). Courant's plan had the goal of construction of at least 240,000 residences each year, and it was an unexpected success — from 1956 on, there were more than 300,000 new residences built annually, with a good number of them HLM — in 1964, there were 95,000 new HLM apartments. The residences were often constructed in large complexes, by ("the way of the crane"). The new, large apartment buildings were perfectly rectangular, so as to allow a crane
Crane (machine)
A crane is a type of machine, generally equipped with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. It uses one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage and thus move loads beyond the normal capability of...
to roll along a track and place components on both sides of the building simultaneously, saving both time and effort.
The greatest increase in the number of HLM's came in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when a great number of planned communities
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
, or ZUP (: "priority urbanisation zones") were constructed. These were built mostly in the suburbs of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. A total of 195 ZUP were created, producing over two million new, mostly HLM, residences.
The emphasis shifted to improving the standard of living in the residences already in existence — in 1968, for example, only 41% of the HLM apartments had toilet and sanitary facilities. By the end of the 1970s, this figure had risen to about 80%. New HLM sites with more rooms per residence were built in smaller cities and towns, and numerous programmes were launched to combat poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
and crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
in the ZUP communities. In 2001, each HLM residence had, on average, 2.4 persons living in it (compared to 3.2 in 1954), four rooms (three in 1954), and 96% of all HLM apartments had toilet and sanitary facilities, whereas the figure in 1954 was only 10%.
See also
- Public housing in FrancePublic housing in FrancePublic housing in France or social housing in France is a central, local or social program designed to provide subsidized assistance for low-income and poor people.-Statistical data:France had 4,508 millions of HLM the first January 2010 Public housing in France or social housing in France (french...
- ("new town")
- BanlieueBanlieueIn francophone areas, banlieues are the "outskirts" of a city: the zone around a city that is under the city's rule.Banlieues are translated as "suburbs", as these are also residential areas on the outer edge of a city, but the connotations of the term "banlieue" in France can be different from...
- Housing Development Board (Singapore)
- Council HousingCouncil houseA council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
(UK)
External links
- at Cour des Comptes (in FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
)