In Martinique, 50 housing units to promote the return of young workers

Accessible free of charge for three months, the accommodations are distributed throughout Martinique.

"It is to allow these young people to have an airlock on their arrival", commented Serge Letchimy, president of the Territorial Collectivity of Martinique. "If we don't have a reception policy, a family policy, the population will continue to fall," he said.

The proportion of young people in Martinique is declining with a drop of 3% each year recorded between 2013 and 2018, i.e. 16.438 fewer young people in 5 years.

"If recent demographic trends continue, the population of Martinique would reach 286.500 inhabitants in 2042 then 212.000 in 2070, i.e. 157.000 people less than in 2018", warns INSEE.

The apartments concerned by the device go "from T4 to studio depending on the size of the family", specified Patrick Lecurieux-Durival, president of the lessor Ozanam. "They are equipped with water, electricity and internet subscriptions," he added.

"The agreement is valid for one year but is renewable," said Alain Coridon, president of the Comité Action Logement Martinique.

Since the beginning of the year, the local Martinican executive has made the fight for demography its hobbyhorse. In February, the Assembly of Martinique voted to create a family policy center whose first action is the allocation of birth bonuses of 2.000 and 3.000 euros for the birth of a second and a third child.

In Martinique, the forced exile of young people to continue their studies and find work is accelerating the aging of the population. INSEE estimates that 40% of Martinique's population will be aged 60 and over by 2030.