Cross-border workers use camper vans to bypass Swiss border housing crisis

In the Doubs region near the Swiss border, an increasing number of cross-border workers are choosing to live in camper vans to escape skyrocketing rents and housing shortages. In the commune of Les Fourgs, the local population has grown from approximately 1,100 to over 1,450 residents in recent years, while property prices and rents have risen by 20%.

One such individual, 37-year-old Geoffroy, moved from the Paris region to live in a fully equipped camper van to maintain proximity to Swiss employment opportunities. He noted that his vehicle contains all necessary amenities, including a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and refrigerator.

The phenomenon is significant enough that the local community has begun accommodating these residents with dedicated areas. Approximately half of the inhabitants in the area are now classified as cross-border workers seeking the higher wages and lower unemployment rates offered by Switzerland.