Municipal Elections 2026 in Nice: the Forum réfugiés association relaunches the debate on accommodation and integration

The Forum réfugiés association has decided to address the candidates in the 2026 municipal elections. The association wants to remind people of the decisive role that municipalities play in welcoming and integrating refugee populations. This statement directly refers to debates in Nice about housing, social cohesion and the management of vulnerable populations, in a city where municipal choices strongly structure the trajectories of those who settle there.

Forum réfugiés highlights the role of municipalities in supporting asylum seekers and refugees. The message emphasizes the presence of families, schoolchildren, qualified professionals and people seeking independence. The association reminds us that « municipal choices (urban planning, housing, schools, associative life) have a direct impact on our daily lives. » This statement refers to discussions in Nice about housing tension, the distribution of public facilities and the role of associations in neighborhoods.

Founded in 1982, Forum réfugiés supports nearly 30,000 people each year through welcoming, accommodation and integration missions. The association relies on nearly 600 employees in France and also operates in several countries of origin of refugees to promote human rights, rule of law and democracy. It benefits from special consultative status with the UN. This international dimension strengthens the impact of its statement at a time when municipalities are redefining their priorities.

The question of housing occupies a central place in the message. The association mentions the possibility of mobilizing vacant housing. In Nice, this topic is part of a context marked by the scarcity of accessible housing stock, the conversion of many properties into tourist rentals and efforts to maintain a diverse residential offer. Reflection on the use of existing housing stock joins debates on the revitalization of certain areas and on stabilizing residential pathways.

Implementing support

Forum réfugiés highlights examples of municipalities where the settlement of refugee families made it possible to maintain schools and reinvest vacant housing. These situations remind us of the challenges Nice faces related to school demographics, balance between neighborhoods and continuity of public services. The question of local vitality is thus directly linked to reception capacity.

The association emphasizes the importance of structured support. It states that it « manages the administrative processes, (…) mobilizes national and European funding (…) coordinates partners. » This approach echoes practices already present in Nice, where several organizations are involved in accommodation, access to rights and professional integration. Coordination between actors remains a major issue, particularly during periods of saturation of services.

The message reminds us that « welcoming is not an ideology. It is a shared responsibility. » This statement comes in a Nice context where debates on security, the presence of vulnerable populations and the organization of emergency accommodation are recurring. The municipal campaign often addresses these subjects from the angle of day-to-day management. The intervention of Forum réfugiés invites them to be placed in a broader perspective, focused on social cohesion and the ability of territories to integrate new residents.

The conclusion — « The question is not whether we should welcome them, but how to do it well? » — directly appeals to Nice’s candidates. Municipal programs regularly address housing, neighborhood balance and associative life. Forum réfugiés’ appeal reminds us that welcoming is part of these issues and that it shapes how the city projects itself into the coming years.