Family Diversity and Population Ageing: New Challenges for Housing and Cities

摘要

Changes in the nature and structure of the family and population ageing are two important considerations when it comes to assessing the impact of demographic changes on housing problems and urban planning. Changes in the family increase the number of households, and thus contribute to the pressure on the housing market. The consequences of these changes are not only quantitative. Nowadays, the housing market has to meet the classic demand of stable families as well as the demand of less conventional households. The latter have housing needs that are difficult to reconcile with the present housing market. Less conventional households also have specific needs in terms of the kind of accommodation and surroundings they want to live in. So, one can observe in France a phenomenon called "demographic segregation". Population ageing too is quite challenging. Most of the elderly live in their own home even at very advanced ages. Housing must then be adapted and services allowing the elderly to stay at home must be provided. A lot has also to be done in terms of access to one's home, security, public spaces, transportation and shopping facilities. An integrated policy is thus needed. But the ageing of the population is not a net drain: it can provide an economic boost to the local economy.