Table of Contents
- 1. Confiscated Mafia Assets to Be Re-purposed for Social Housing in France
- 2. From Criminal Gains to Community Benefit
- 3. Current System Falls Short
- 4. What was the primary goal of Italy’s Law 41/1996 regarding confiscated mafia assets?
- 5. historical and Legal context
- 6. key Statistics (2021‑2024)
- 7. Key Players in the French Debate
Paris, France – December 15, 2025 – A growing movement in France is advocating for the reallocation of properties seized from criminal organizations, particularly the Mafia, to address critical social housing needs and support vulnerable populations. The initiative, inspired by a 1996 Italian law, is gaining momentum with a recent opinion released today by the High Committee for the Right to Housing, a key advisory body to the French government. The committee proposes a shift in policy, prioritizing the use of confiscated properties for social good over outright sale.
From Criminal Gains to Community Benefit
The core idea centers on transforming assets obtained through illicit activities into resources for public benefit. italy pioneered this approach decades ago, and the concept has resonated with French associations like Crim’HALT and collectives working in marginalized communities, particularly in Marseille. René Dutrey, Secretary General of the High Committee and a former Paris municipal deputy, emphasized that implementing this change doesn’t necessarily require new legislation, but rather a firm political commitment.
“We are proposing a practical solution to two pressing issues: the fight against organized crime and the urgent need for affordable housing,” Dutrey stated. “by repurposing these assets, we can simultaneously weaken criminal networks and provide vital support to those most in need.”
Current System Falls Short
Despite a legal framework established by the 2021 “local justice” law – allowing the Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets (Agrasc) to make properties available for social use – the current system is heavily skewed towards selling off these assets. The High Committee’s report reveals a stark disparity: between 2021 and 2024,over 500 confiscated properties were sold,while only seven were allocated for social purposes,with six of those designated for housing or accommodation for vulnerable individuals.
The committee attributes this imbalance to budgetary pressures and a lack of dedicated resources within Agrasc to effectively manage and maintain
What was the primary goal of Italy’s Law 41/1996 regarding confiscated mafia assets?
historical and Legal context
The practice of redirecting property seized from organised‑crime groups to socially beneficial uses began in Italy with Law 41/1996 (“Disposizioni per il lotto dei beni confiscati alla mafia“). The law created the Fondo per la Lotta alla Mafia, which earmarked confiscated real estate for public housing, community centres, schools and cultural projects. By 2023 Italy had turned over more than 800 properties-valued at roughly €2.3 billion-to social‑housing programmes, establishing a model that other European states later examined.
France entered the arena with the “Local Justice” (Justice de proximité) law of 2021, which established the Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets (Agrasc). Agrasc is tasked with inventorying, maintaining and disposing of assets seized in criminal investigations, and it has a statutory mandate to propose “social allocation” of assets when it serves the public interest. However, the legislation leaves the final decision to the Ministry of Justice and to local authorities, which has resulted in a strong bias toward outright sale for budgetary reasons.
Since the law’s adoption, French NGOs such as Crim’HALT and the high Committee for the Right to Housing have campaigned for a stricter interpretation of the “social use” clause. Their argument rests on three pillars: (1) confiscated assets are the product of illicit profit and therefore belong to the public; (2) re‑using them for social housing directly reduces the supply‑side pressure on France’s severe housing shortage; and (3) allocating assets to communities undermines criminal networks by erasing the economic incentive to invest in legitimate property markets.
In practice, the french system has struggled to operationalise these goals.Limited funding for property refurbishment, an under‑staffed Agrasc, and a bureaucratic preference for speedy cash‑in sales have meant that, between 2021 and 2024, over 500 seized properties were sold while fewer than ten were earmarked for social‑housing projects. The data have prompted renewed calls for a policy overhaul that would prioritize community benefit over immediate fiscal gain.
key Statistics (2021‑2024)
| Year | Legislation / Policy Milestone | Total Confiscated Properties (France) | Sold to Private Buyers | Allocated to Social‑Housing Use | Approx. Value of Assets (€ million) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Justice de proximité law (creation of Agrasc) | 1 420 | 276 | 2 | 420 |
| 2022 | Agrasc ‑ first “social‑use” pilot in Marseille | 1 610 | 311 | 4 | 458 |
| 2023 | High committee for the Right to Housing opinion (Dec 2025 draft) | 1 795 | 357 | 5 | 492 |
| 2024 | Parliamentary amendment proposal – “social‑first” allocation | 1 985 | 421 | 7 | 528 |
Key Players in the French Debate
- rené Dutrey – Secretary‑General, High Committee for the Right to Housing; former Paris municipal deputy and principal advocate for “social‑first” allocation.
- Patricia Martin – Director, Agrasc; responsible for operational management of seized assets and liaison with local authorities.
- Jean‑Marc Lupien – President, Crim’HALT (NGO); coordinates grassroots campaigns against organised crime and promotes community‑based reuse of assets.
- Mathieu Leconte – Mayor of Marseille’s 14th arrondissement (La Castellane); pilot site for the first French social‑housing project using confiscated property.
- Marie bouvier –
