Photo: Royryap

It is a regular feature of Christmas in France and the posters are everywhere. Each year, one French charity, the Abbé Pierre Foundation (Fondation Abbé Pierre), posts grim pictures of extreme poverty and sub-standard housing.

While the campaign seeks to spur action among individuals, French cities are also falling short in their efforts to provide adequate housing to the disadvantaged. Many municipalities are compelled by law to boost their public housing stocks over a 20-year period or face fines — but many are choosing to ignore this obligation.

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