Brussels, Belgium. Preventing homelessness and improving access to affordable housing were the focus of a meeting of the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, as members examined proposed European Union measures against housing exclusion.
The discussion addressed homelessness prevention, support for people in insecure housing conditions and stronger social and affordable housing policies across the bloc.
Housing and social inclusion
Employment and Social Affairs Committee chair Li Andersson said homelessness goes beyond housing policy and is closely linked to social inclusion, prevention and the development of resilient, cohesive societies.
She said that although housing policy remains primarily the responsibility of member states, the European Commission’s proposal shows how the EU can contribute through coordination, exchanges of experience and the promotion of effective policy approaches.
European Parliament housing committee vice-president Ciaran Mullooly welcomed cooperation between the two committees, saying housing policy and social inclusion are inherently connected.
Proposed recommendation
Mullooly said the European Commission presented the proposed Council Recommendation on May 6, 2026, alongside the EU’s first anti-poverty strategy.
He said 92.7 million people, or 20.9 per cent of the EU population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, while about 1 million people across the union were homeless.
Housing pressures
Citing the housing committee’s analysis, Mullooly said house prices across the EU had risen by more than 60 per cent over the past decade, while rents had increased by more than 20 per cent.
He also referred to estimates that about 1.3 million people, including nearly 400,000 children, sleep on the streets or in emergency accommodation each night across the European Union.
Mullooly welcomed the proposal’s focus on housing-first approaches, eviction prevention and increasing the supply of social and affordable housing. He said that because the recommendation is not legally binding, its effectiveness will depend on implementation by member states.
