Moroccan Woman Leads 20,000 Social Homes Seine-Saint-Denis

Elected Tuesday evening to lead this public agency, the deputy mayor of Saint-Denis has a particularly singular career path. At 37, she becomes the first woman, but especially the first child of tenants, to direct the organization. From a Moroccan family considering leaving France due to lack of decent housing, she first lived in a dilapidated 32-square-meter apartment on the fourth floor without an elevator on Boulevard Carnot.

On Bladi.net : Aïcha Bassal First Female President Nantes Métropole Habitat

Obtaining a four-room apartment at the Gabriel Péri housing estate when she was eight years old acted as a genuine personal and family springboard. Believing that this type of housing "creates life paths," the new leader considers herself to have been built up and empowered through this decisive step. After higher education in international relations, she herself benefited from this system through housing independence, before acquiring her own residence in the city center in 2023.

Her connection to the organization goes beyond simply occupying an apartment, as she also worked there as a project manager. In this position, she notably organized an associative network allowing residents to meet and negotiate local commercial benefits. Now in charge, she plans to place individual housing allocation at the center of priorities, improve overall living conditions, and continue the energy rehabilitation of buildings.

On Bladi.net : Elderly Moroccan Woman Found Dead in Paris Suburb: Police Probe Possible Link to Undocumented Tenants

As reported by the daily newspaper Le Parisien, the elected official also aims to control rents and charges, which have jumped 13% over the past six years. Upon taking office, she demanded audits on the institution’s financial health, human resources, and rental fees. This desire for price control, however, leaves her predecessor puzzled about its real economic and practical feasibility.