As of 2023, the EU mobilises to count citizens experiencing homelessness
What to expect from the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness in the new year?
Brussels, 15 December 2022 | Published in Social
The European Platform on Combatting Homelessness which aims at facilitating mutual learning has announced new initiatives for the new year that should contribute to the final goal of ending homelessness by 2030.
Nicolas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights said that a new EU-wide initiative will count people experiencing homelessness to have a clear idea of the magnitude of the problem and tackle it effectively.
As of 2023, the European Commission will also team up with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to develop a policy toolkit that should support Member States' homelessness strategies. Housing Europe supports the Commissioner's advice to governments to use the available European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for investments in more social housing, combining them with European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
Anticipating the continuous critique that the uptake of EU funds can often appear complex to implement and operate, Nicolas Schmit said that the Commission department responsible for EU policy on employment, and social affairs will partner with the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) to map funding options and help to create a project pipeline.
A draft working plan will be proposed at the beginning of the next year, while the team behind the platform is preparing a mutual learning programme with success stories. Exactly three years ago, Housing Europe, FEANTSA, and Fondation Abbé Pierre which are behind the Housing Solutions Platform compiled some of the most innovative and daring examples of housing solutions for the locked out in Europe. The majority of these examples are still relevant and doable, and our organisations will put these good practices forward.