Marseille faces housing crisis, social segregation, and decay despite its charm; activism drives change.
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Marseille is a city contrasting chic cafes and luxury hotels with dilapidated residential areas. A tragedy occurred on November 5, 2018, when several neighboring residential buildings collapsed in the Aubagne street, killing eight people, despite long-known structural issues. Activists like Kevin Vacher formed Collectiv 5 Novembre to address the humanitarian crisis affecting about one hundred thousand residents living in dangerous conditions. The city is characterized by stark social divisions: affluent areas contrast sharply with impoverished northern districts where poverty rates are extremely high. Gentrification and tourism, fueled by platforms like Airbnb, displace low-income residents who often live in unsafe buildings that authorities prefer to demolish rather than repair. Activists advocate for the rights of all inhabitants, including undocumented individuals, demanding housing solutions upon displacement. The public outcry following the building collapses led to the resignation of the long-serving right-wing mayor and the subsequent victory of a left-wing coalition in the 2020 municipal elections.
