MEPs push the European Commission and member states to make the fight against homelessness a top priority.
In a debate on Monday 13/1/2020, MEPs called on the Commission and member states to take urgent action to tackle homelessness, in particular to avoid winter deaths, and to investigate how to broaden affordable housing options for people who are at risk of housing exclusion.
The EP has on several occasions called on the Commission to address the rising levels of housing exclusion, in line with Principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights which states that “access to social housing or housing assistance of good quality shall be provided for those in need.”
An estimated 700.000 people were homeless in the EU in 2019, with numbers rising across Europe, except in Finland, which reported a decrease of 45%. Latvia saw an increase of 389% between 2009 and 2017, and homelessness in Ireland increased by 203% between 2014 and 2018. Housing deprivation is at the heart of poverty and social exclusion, and closely linked to unemployment.
The Parliament will vote on a resolution at a later stage.
Commission statement
Debate: Monday, 13 January 2020
europarl.europa.eu
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