An ambitious European promise
A strong society is built by all citizens. When some sleep rough, the plans need revising. With the Lisbon Declaration, the European Union promised to lay the foundations so that everyone can access decent housing.
In June 2021, during Portugal’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, many countries signed the Lisbon Declaration, committing themselves, through five key priorities1, to end homelessness across Europe by 2030.
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A reality that contradicts the commitments
Yet the evidence is clear: homelessness continues to rise in Europe. Nearly 1.3 million people are currently without a home. In France or Germany, this number has even doubled in recent years.
From Brussels to Warsaw, via Barcelona or Dublin, no capital is spared. This crisis is driven by a housing shortage, skyrocketing rents, ever-stricter social rules, the impact of COVID, and political inability to manage migration flows.
Proof that solutions work
By contrast, the Nordic countries show that effective action is possible. Finland in particular has drastically reduced homelessness thanks to the Housing First approach: providing stable housing from the outset, with tailored support. This model works when fully backed by public authorities.
But elsewhere in Europe, this model is sometimes questioned: in Hungary, for example, these policies are no longer supported by the state. The rise of the far right in several countries makes the work of NGOs harder and undermines the rights of the most vulnerable. Now more than ever, the values of solidarity and mutual aid must be defended.
Belgium facing its responsibilities
Ending homelessness is possible, but it depends on political choices. In Belgium, reaching the 2030 target will be a challenge: nearly 50,000 people are without a home, meaning we need to rehouse about 30 people sustainably every day from now on.
In June 2024, Belgium held elections: it’s been a year since social and housing policies could be implemented. On the French-speaking side, all parties committed to Housing First in their programmes and in Wallonia’s government declaration. Yet in practice, funding for NGOs and public housing is being cut. In Brussels, the absence of a government is delaying the Housing Fund – no new mortgage applications can be approved for lack of guarantees.
Public housing, key to the solution
It is thanks to public housing that we can rehouse people sustainably. The private market is becoming unaffordable; rents are skyrocketing, excluding more and more households.
Recently in Dublin, the International Social Housing Festival brought together stakeholders from around the world. The conclusion was clear: ending homelessness requires more public housing.
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Local initiatives showing the way
In Brussels, in collaboration with the non-profit sector, a quota of social housing reserved for people experiencing homelessness has been introduced, strengthening Housing First. We are now working to extend this model to Wallonia. Initiatives like this must be developed everywhere.
A masterplan to end homelessness, drawn up by the non-profit sector, is awaiting political will for implementation. We urgently need to renovate and build more public housing to meet demand.
A European momentum to reinforce
In March 2024, EU housing ministers met in Liège and signed the Liège Declaration for affordable, decent and sustainable housing. Since then, the EU has appointed its first Housing Commissioner, Dan Jørgensen, tasked with developing a plan for affordable housing and supporting construction across Europe.
Recently, the European Alliance of Mayors for Housing met the Commissioner to call for a €300 billion housing fund. The mayors of Ghent, Paris, Lisbon and Warsaw emphasised that the housing crisis is a social and political emergency.
Solidarity over indifference
The Lisbon Declaration is a strong promise: to end homelessness. To keep it, concrete actions are needed now. Across Europe, over one million people live on the streets or in unacceptable conditions. Solutions exist; political ambition is needed to implement them. We must choose solidarity over indifference and finally guarantee the right to housing for everyone.