27 | From Pathways to Practice: Housing First in France
Tracks
English
| Friday, November 7, 2025 |
| 10:15 - 11:15 |
Details
France’s Un Chez Soi d’Abord program, launched in 2011 and based on the Pathways to Housing model, has become a cornerstone of the national response to homelessness among people with severe mental health conditions. Following strong outcomes, the program has been progressively scaled up to over 40 cities.
This presentation will explore how France is working to maintain fidelity to Housing First principles while adapting the model to diverse territorial realities. It will highlight tools such as the Housing First Fidelity Scale, the integration of peer support, and intersectoral collaboration.
The session will also present recent developments, including the rollout of Housing First for youth and efforts to design approaches for rural areas. Challenges such as housing access and funding stability will be discussed, with a focus on building sustainable, context-sensitive Housing First systems across Europe
Speaker
Raphael Bouloudnine
National Coordinator Of The "un Chez Soi D’abord" Program
DIHAL
From Pathways to Practice: Housing First in France
Biography
Dr. Raphaël Bouloudnine is a psychiatrist and national coordinator of Un chez soi d’abord at DIHAL. He promotes recovery-oriented Housing First policies in France, supports peer involvement, and develops innovations like Working First. He also contributes to European collaboration on inclusive, sustainable responses to homelessness and mental health needs.
