# Child welfare and homelessness issues in France

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/child-welfare-and-homelessness-issues-in-france
> Updated: 2026-08-26T12:08:53.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2.

Concerns regarding child welfare in France have centered on both systemic placement issues and rising homelessness. Legal experts and lawmakers have raised alarms over the scale of placements within the Aide sociale à l’enfance (ASE). Data indicates that of the approximately 392,600 minors receiving support, about 225,000 are placed outside their family homes. Critics argue that roughly 100,000 of these placements could be avoided, suggesting the judicial criterion of ‘danger’ has become too subjective.

Family law attorney Franz Achache and Socialist deputy Isabelle Santiago have noted that placements are sometimes based on non-objective factors, such as a parent’s psychological fragility, rather than concrete evidence of maltreatment. While a commission of inquiry proposed measures in April 2025 to address these systemic issues, these recommendations were reportedly omitted from a child protection bill recently adopted in its first reading by the National Assembly.

Parallel to these placement concerns, reports from Unicef France and the Federation of Actors of Solidarity (FAS) highlight a growing crisis of homelessness among children. At least 2,355 children are currently without housing solutions, representing a 42% increase since 2022. Of these, 514 are under the age of three. Humanitarian groups warn that these figures likely underrepresent the true scale, as they exclude unaccompanied minors, families in squats or slums, and those who do not use emergency services. The crisis has had severe consequences, including the reported deaths of 14 children under four and 12 adolescents between 15 and 18 in 2025. Advocates are calling for increased social housing production and dedicated funding for emergency accommodation.

## Claims

- The number of homeless children in France increased by 9% over the past year. (disputed by 5 sources)
- The number of homeless children has risen 42% since 2022. (disputed by 5 sources)
- Current statistics do not include unaccompanied minors, families in squats, or those in slums. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- At least 2,355 children in France are currently without housing solutions. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- In 2025, 14 children under the age of four and 12 adolescents aged 15 to 18 died while living on the streets. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-26: France child homelessness rises 42% since 2022

UNICEF France and FAS report that at least 2,355 children in France are without housing, a 42% increase since 2022, despite government promises to end child homelessness.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-faces-rising-number-of-homeless-children

### 2026-08-18: France child welfare: Experts warn of excessive placements

Legal experts and French lawmakers warn that nearly half of the 225,000 children placed in welfare services could be avoided due to subjective judicial criteria regarding child danger.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-child-welfare-experts-warn-of-excessive-placements

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Cite as: Child welfare and homelessness issues in France. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/child-welfare-and-homelessness-issues-in-france