In 2021, the member states of the European Union and other interested parties committed, in the Lisbon Declaration, to work together to end homelessness, at the latest, by 2030. After the European elections next June , decision-makers of very diverse political colors will need to continue to collaborate to achieve this goal.
Homelessness has become a problem everywhere: it is estimated that every night in Europe, 895,000 people sleep rough or in a hostel, a figure equivalent to the population of Marseille, Amsterdam or Turin. It is a situation that increasingly affects migrants, workers, women and young people, and in some EU member states, a third of those in emergency accommodation are minors.
Since 2021, the European Union has intensified the fight against homelessness. The creation of the European Platform to Combat Homelessness, an initiative that arose within the framework of the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights, has brought together member states, European institutions and civil society entities with the aim of 'to exchange good practices and start a dialogue around the fight against homelessness.
Thanks to the Platform, the signatories have been able to start building European solutions, such as the creation of a common framework to define homelessness (called ETHOS), the improvement of data collection and the mobilization of European funds to finance policies formulated in from the data. As a result of the exchange of knowledge and experiences, some member states have developed a national strategy, which combines a "housing first" approach with specific support services (debt management, health care, job search, etc.) and almost half of the member states have promoted national strategies to fight homelessness. But much work remains to be done.
Six years to go until 2030: it's time to move towards a Europe where homelessness has no place, where the right to a home is not only recognized but considered the solid foundation of a healthy society and prosperous
The fight against homelessness calls for ambitious action at local, regional, national and European levels. It is a shared responsibility that must involve all parties: political leaders, European institutions, entities and other interested parties.
We will only succeed in eradicating homelessness through concerted strategies that address prevention, housing and reintegration. Likewise, they must incorporate elements from other areas such as health, migration, gender equality, non-discrimination and regional policy, to mention just a few.
On the 8th and 9th, the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union organized a conference in Brussels on homelessness to take stock of the Platform's progress. We call on the EU to make the fight against homelessness a key element of an ambitious social agenda.
This work is more important than ever. We must redouble our efforts to put an end to this unacceptable form of social exclusion in Europe.
Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights
Karine Lalieux, Minister of Pensions and Social Integration of Belgium
Yves Leterme, president of the European Platform to Combat Homelessness
