HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE HOUSING

895,000 people are homeless every night in Europe, according to studies published by those involved in inadequate housing in Europe. The situation is on the increase in most Member States, with Germany, Spain and Ireland in particular recording significant rises in the number of homeless people. In addition, 19.2 million people live in substandard housing, leading to more than 100,000 deaths every year.

In France, 4 million people are homeless or inadequately housed and 12 million people are affected by the housing crisis, according to the Fondation Abbé Pierre's annual report on inadequate housing.

Faced with this situation, which affects France and Europe but also extends to the rest of the world, SOMFY Foundation has been working with associations and local players since 2009, with the aim of restoring dignity to everyone, particularly by promoting access to decent housing and supporting projects that will bring about change in the building industry.

As SOMFY Foundation sees housing as a key factor in improving the quality of life together, it supports initiatives and actions that use housing to foster social ties between vulnerable people. The aim is to weave, day after day, the bonds of humanity that form the basis of a balanced society.

In 2021, SOMFY Foundation is reaffirming its desire to take action in the fight against poor housing throughout the world, by keeping its expertise as one of its 3 fields of action : Together to promote healthy and sustainable housing for all.

SOMFY Foundation's objectives are to develop lasting relationships and collaborate with associative partners who have been identified as stakeholders and project leaders. To this end, SOMFY Foundation relies on strong partnerships to work in this field:

Les Petites Pierres

Habitat For Humanity

Read the FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless) report on the state of inadequate housing in Europe: Click here 

The Fondation Abbé Pierre's annual reports on the state of inadequate housing in France: Click here

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, A LONG-STANDING PARTNER OF THE FOUNDATION

The partnership between the SOMFY Foundation and Habitat for Humanity, named ‘A House is A Home’, began in January 2014. Initially focusing on France and Brazil, the programme has expanded to many other countries, including Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Romania, Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, Poland, India, Australia, the United States and the Asia-Pacific region. Each year, SOMFY Group subsidiaries identify projects to support decent housing for the most disadvantaged, providing financial support and solidarity actions carried out by employees.

In 2022, the Ukrainian crisis strengthened this partnership with an exceptional grant to help refugee families.

Present in more than 70 countries on 5 continents, Habitat for Humanity, has helped more than 35 million people around the world by improving their housing conditions.

DISCOVER A FINE EXAMPLE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP: THAILAND & HONG KONG IN 2024

Working with social services to identify vulnerable people and families who need help to make their homes safe and healthy. During a HomeWorks Project session, we work with volunteers to make homes safer. For example, by de-cluttering items that are fire hazards or could cause accidents, such as falls. Homes are also cleaned by discarding out-of-date food and removing pest-infested furniture to improve the health and wellbeing of our vulnerable older people and families.