Nearly 93 million people in the EU are at risk of poverty or social exclusion and around 1 million experience homelessness. Today, delivering on the European Affordable Housing Plan, the Commission has proposed the first-ever EU framework to prevent housing exclusion and homelessness, placing housing at the core of the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy.
Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said:
“The first condition for dignity is having a place to live. A roof over one's head is the basis for everything else in life. Yet today, 1 million people in the EU have no place to call home. Today we put forward the 1st EU framework to fight housing exclusion and homelessness. Housing is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right. Europeans deserve a housing system that works, for everyone.”
The proposed Council Recommendation to fight housing exclusion urges strengthened social support systems and expanding of housing-led, people-centred policies. Measures focus on preventing evictions through early-warning systems, emergency rent help, debt and housing advice, and mediation, as well as creating one-stop services that combine emergency accommodation with personalised support and outreach. The Commission also calls for increased investment to boost social and affordable housing supply.
On disability rights, the Commission aims to accelerate the shift from institutional care, where 1.4 million people with disabilities still live, to community-based support, including through a new Alliance for Independent Living, which will interlink with the coming European Housing Alliance.
Member States will now discuss the proposed Recommendation with a view to Council adoption.
Read more
Press release for the Anti-Poverty Strategy
Council recommendation on fighting housing exclusion
Questions and answers on the anti-poverty package
Factsheet on the anti-poverty package
Factsheet on enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030
- Publication date
- 6 May 2026
- Author
- Directorate-General for Energy