European Platform on Combatting Homelessness

Combatting homelessness in the EU
Homelessness is one of the most extreme forms of social exclusion, with adverse effects on people's physical and mental health, well-being and life expectancy. It also creates barriers to employment and access to essential social and economic services. In recent years, there is identifiable rising trend of homelessness in most EU Member States.

Responding to the urgent need to adress this issue, European institutions, governments and civil society organisations have joined forces to tackle homelessness through the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, launched at a high-level conference in Lisbon in 2021. The event, co-organised by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU, marked the adoption of the Lisbon Declaration, uniting diverse stakeholders behind a common commitment: working towards ending homelessness by 2030. 

Objectives and priorities
The Platform aims to end homelessness through joint action focusing on prevention and integrated, housing-led solutions. Key objectives, as described in the Lisbon Declaration, include: 

• Ensuring that no one sleeps rough due to a lack of safe and accessible emergency accommodation.
• Moving people quickly from emergency or transitional accommodation to permanent solutions.
• Preventing evictions wherever possible and ensure support for housing solutions where necessary.
• Ensuring that no one is discharged from institutions without adequate housing.
• Tackling discrimination against people experiencing homelessness

These objectives are in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, in particular Principle 19 on housing and assistance to homeless people.

Strategic focus

The Platform's activities are described in its work programme which focuses on three main areas:

1. Strengthening evidence on homelessness to inform policy and action.
2. Facilitating mutual learning between Member States and stakeholders.
3. Improving access to finance to support sustainable solutions.

National commitment and cooperation

The members of the Platform are representatives of Member States, international, national and subnational authorities, EU institutions and advisory bodies, social partners and relevant civil society organisations. Their role as members is to ensure progress in the commitments undertaken under the Lisbon Declaration in their areas of competence, through active participation in the work of the Platform.

Since the launch of the Platform an increasing number of EU Member States have adopted integrated strategies at national level, demonstrating their commitment to tackling homelessness as a priority for Social Europe. By working together at local, national and European level, stakeholders aim not only to manage homelessness but to end it.

Tackling homelessness is an example of the EU's commitment to promoting inclusion and ensuring the dignity of all its citizens.