Poverty and insecurity are gaining ground in France, especially in rural areas, according to an alarming study by Secours populaire.

30 % des Français peinent à faire trois repas par jour. MAXPPP – Nicolas Parent

The difficulties of the French are getting worse in rural areas.

Yesterday, the Secours populaire français launched its poverty-precariousness campaign by publishing the results of its Ipsos/Secours populaire survey on the subject. Several important points emerge from it.

1. Precariousness is increasing in France

The great fragility of many households is reflected in the increase, for the third consecutive year, of the objective poverty threshold: a single person must now have 1,396 euros per month to not be considered poor, according to the French. However, at this level, it is only 2 euros away from the SMIC2024! (1,398 euros net).

Two out of five French people now say they have gone through a period of great financial fragility at least at one point in their life. This level has never been so high since the peak recorded in 2013. The level of difficulty is such that in total, 62% of French people say they have experienced poverty or have been on the verge of experiencing it. A figure up 4 points compared to 2023.

2. Difficulties in paying energy bills

Month-ends are becoming increasingly difficult and we are seeing a deterioration in daily expenses. Nearly one in two French people have difficulty paying their electricity bills and have decided not to heat their homes in winter. More than a third have difficulty paying their rent or mortgage and 30% of French people struggle to eat three meals a day.

3. An increase in precariousness in Europe

Precariousness is not a specific French phenomenon: nearly 7 out of 10 Europeans are unable to make ends meet and a third of them now declare themselves to be in a precarious situation.

4. Rural areas most affected

Precariousness and poverty are exacerbated by territorial inequalities, difficulties in accessing rights, healthcare or even employment.

Solidaribus, itinerant support

The Secours populaire reaches out to people in difficulty in these areas and provides help, support and comfort, in particular through its Solidaribus, mobile hotlines that crisscross remote areas offering hotlines for food aid, access to rights, digital technology, mobility and health in particular. In 6 years, Secours populaire has tripled the number of Solidaribus and now has 58 throughout France. This is the case for the Grand Orb community of communes in Hérault.