Social housing: Josée Massi calls for consultation
Faced with social housing tensions, Métropole president Josée Massi calls for consultation between the State and municipalities.
In a context of tension between the State services and the municipality of Carqueiranne, Josée Massi, president of the Métropole Toulon Provence Méditerranée, intervened to call for dialogue.
The position taken by the préfet of Var regarding the exercise of the urban right of pre-emption to create social housing has sparked strong reactions from the mayor of the municipality, prompting the president of the intermunicipality to clarify her position.
The essential role of mayors
Josée Massi reaffirmed the Métropole's involvement in responding to housing needs. The goal is to enable every resident to have decent housing, a commitment formalized by social mix agreements signed between the State and many member municipalities.
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However, she emphasizes that pursuing these objectives cannot ignore the reality on the ground and the central role of local elected officials.
“These objectives, shared by all, cannot be achieved without taking into account the reality of the territories and the essential role of the mayors, who are the primary local actors and the guarantors of local balance.”
Cooperation and mutual trust
The implementation of housing policies, particularly those resulting from the Solidarité et Renouvellement Urbains (SRU) law, cannot turn into a trial of strength between the State and the municipalities.
Josée Massi advocates for an approach based on cooperation and mutual trust: “Achieving these objectives can only be done in a climate of trust and consultation between the State and the local authorities concerned.”
She considers it essential that social housing projects be developed in collaboration with mayors, in order to guarantee their harmonious integration and acceptability.
The Métropole as a facilitator
Therefore, Josée Massi positions the Métropole as a facilitator, ready to work for a constructive dialogue between the different parties.
The metropolitan institution wants to play its coordination role to overcome obstacles and find balanced solutions, respecting both legal obligations and the specificities of each municipality.
Article from the paper edition of La Gazette du Var