Housing Strategies of Foreign Families in Mayotte: Challenges and Opportunities
Mayotte, a French overseas territory experiencing rapid demographic growth, recorded a rate of 4% in 2022, one of the highest in the world (Cour de comptes, 2022). This trend is largely driven by a significant population of foreign origin, particularly families from the Comoros, drawn by better economic conditions: Mayotte's per capita GDP is eight times higher than that of the Comoros (Sénat, 2021). This situation raises critical questions regarding housing and accommodation policies for an already vulnerable population: 94% of foreigners live below the poverty line, and 30% are in an irregular administrative situation, which limits their access to rights (INSEE, 2018). As a result, the housing conditions for these foreign families are dire, with overcrowded, precarious neighborhoods where their livelihoods depend on family and community support networks.
This study aims to analyze their residential trajectories to understand their motivations, the resources they mobilize to secure housing, and the constraints they face. It also examines the housing policy implemented by the French State, which in 2021 introduced a housing and integration support structure for this vulnerable population.
To achieve this, we conducted semi-structured interviews with eleven households benefiting from the housing and integration support structure and interviewed various housing policy stakeholders, including the managing organization. Additionally, we followed two families for two and a half years, allowing us to observe the evolution of their housing situations, particularly after their involvement with the housing structure. The results will shed light on the social determinants influencing the residential choices of foreigners in Mayotte and the limitations of the housing policy, with the goal of identifying potential improvements for their integration.