European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless
FEANTSA
FEANTSA is a European non-governmental organisation working to prevent and alleviate poverty and social exclusion of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Lobbying Activity
Response to EU Drugs Strategy and European Action Plan Against Drug Trafficking
24 Sept 2025
FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless, welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the forthcoming EU Drug Strategy. We strongly highlight the importance of ensuring that the new strategy adopts a public health, human rights-based, person-centred approach; the new framework should not focus solely on punitive measures for drug-related offences, but instead prioritise support, care, and harm reduction for people who use drugs. As the only European NGO focusing exclusively on ending homelessness, FEANTSA highlights that homelessness and substance use are deeply interconnected issues, requiring comprehensive, flexible, and tailored responses. While substance use is not a universal experience among people facing homelessness, when they co-occur, the health consequences can be significantly more severe. People facing multiple vulnerabilities are often excluded from essential services or encounter significant barriers in accessing them. The limited impact on people experiencing homelessness under the EU Drugs Strategy 20212025 has been confirmed by the EC evaluation which revealed major shortcomings, including the failure to ensure full coverage of harm reduction interventions across the EU, and lack of progress in reducing overdose deaths. To address these gaps, FEANTSA recommends that the new strategy: Strengthens participation through meaningful involvement of people with lived experience, alongside other stakeholders, in the development and implementation of drug policies. Maintains a strong focus on homelessness, by expanding harm reduction services and promoting the right to housing as a key component of drug policy. Guarantees healthcare access through scaling up community-led harm reduction and ensuring unconditional access to treatment. Combats stigma and discrimination by investing in awareness-raising initiatives that promote inclusive, rights-based approaches and remove barriers to care. A stronger recognition of the right to housing is vital within the upcoming EU Drug Strategy. Research and practice show that without stable housing, people who use drugs struggle to access and sustain treatment, face higher risks of overdose, and are more exposed to infectious diseases. Housing should not be seen as a reward for recovery, but as a foundation for health, dignity, and recovery itself. Evidence from Housing First and HR programmes demonstrates that access to secure housing significantly reduces drug-related harms, improves treatment outcomes, and supports social reintegration. Including housing within the strategy would ensure that substance use is addressed not only as a health issue, but also as a structural and social challenge, aligning the Drug Strategy with EU wider commitments to social inclusion and the fight against homelessness. Furthermore, FEANTSA call on the EC to make greater use of existing frameworks and funding instruments, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the EU Platform on Combating Homelessness, and cohesion policy funds. Coordinating these with the Drug Strategy can maximise impact, strengthen synergies, and ensure that EU-level initiatives contribute to ending homelessness while supporting people who use drugs. In this regard, we recommend giving particular attention to the best practices identified by the HR4Homelessness project. This project demonstrates how a rights-based approachanchored in participation, harm reduction, and housingcan effectively reach people experiencing extreme marginalisation. Its lessons underline the need for integrated service models, staff training on rights-based care, and the active involvement of people with lived experience. Building on these insights can contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and effective EU Drug Strategy, simultaneously ensuring that it will reach the most excluded populations in our societies that are currently left behind.
Read full responseResponse to Assessment of the energy efficiency public funding support at Union and national level
26 Feb 2024
FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organizations Working with the Homeless expresses concern about the insufficient and inefficient allocation of public funding in EU Member States for improving the energy efficiency of the worst-performing residential buildings. To achieve the Renovation Wave's goals of combating energy poverty, addressing unfit housing, and meeting EU energy and climate targets, there is a need for increased funding targeting the lowest-performing building stock, often inhabited by low-income households. Currently, there is a severe lack of public funding for such improvements. The worst-performing dwellings, primarily housing low-income households, are unattractive to private financing and their owners are excluded from mainstream public funding. Existing EE funding schemes lack social conditionalities, resulting in allocations to sectors other than the residential stock and frequently arrive to middle- and upper-class households due to post-financing schemes, while incentivising the selection of the lowest hanging fruits e.g. mid-performing buildings. The case of Hungary is one such example, spending 0 euros from the EEEF on renovations and only a few 10 thousand homes are planned to benefit from EU funding for (partial) renovations until 2027, while 100.000 units a year need to be renovated to meet climate targets. FEANTSA suggests ringfencing or reorienting EU and national funds, including ETS revenues, toward the worst-performing building stock, emphasizing social conditionality in EU funding. Proportional funding should prioritize renovations for vulnerable households and renovating the worst stock (F, G), with the poorest 10-30% qualifying for 100% coverage of energy efficiency renovation costs, provided upfront. Tailoring funding to income levels ensures effective distribution., Linking energy efficiency funding with other home renovation measures is crucial. A Belgian study show that home improvements are the main motivator for renovations. Training long-term unemployed/low-skilled individuals in energy efficiency installations is beneficial to address labor shortages and spatial inequalities. Finally, it is crucial to provide a framework for heating and cooling planning for smaller settlements as well, as they are often disproportionately impacted by fuel poverty (dependent on solid or other polluting fuels) and exposure to harmful indoor and outdoor air pollution. To ensure the deployment of green heating solution in areas where private investment is less likely to arrive planning will be an important step. Social mainstreaming in heating and cooling plans as well as the heat pump roll-out action plan is important as well as the facilitation of investments in community heating solutions in rural areas. These should be coupled with EE measures in the homes to reduce energy bills. Prioritising the worst performing stock in public funding schemes is the most effective way to leverage the multiple benefits of energy efficiency improvements. It is also makes most fiscal sense. Renovating all 'severe inadequacies' in the dwelling stock to an acceptable level, representing the 10% worst-performing dwellings, would cost the EU nearly 300 billion euros. Return on this initial investment, deriving mainly from the absence of medical costs resulting from housing inadequacies, are estimated at just under 200 billion euros annually for the 28 EU Member States, equating to an average payback period of 1.5 years. Introduction of energy efficiency measures for the poorest households, occupying the worst performing dwellings, also leads to the greatest reduction in overall consumption spent on energy, from 7.2% to 5.9% by 2030, while for the richest households this translated into a reduction from 4.5% to 3.7%. Therefore, energy efficiency policy targeted at the worst performing stock has a progressive impact on society, since the largest savings are achieved by the low-income groups who occupy them.
Read full response4 Sept 2023
FEANSTA is the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless. Part of our work focuses on energy poverty, unfit housing, housing exclusion, homelessness due to eviction, and decent housing solutions. We welcome that energy and environment will be included in the 2025 survey on income and living conditions. In times of energy and cost-of-living crises, it is essential to understand how the transition towards a net zero society impacts households. It can help to identify who is at risk of being left behind in the transition and who the transition could better unlock positive social change instead of increasing the burden on the poorest. We welcome that obstacles to improving energy efficiency will be measured. When doing so, we suggest taking into consideration the following options as possible obstacles: Affordability of renovations, including - the amount of savings of the hh; - lack of access to public and private financial mechanisms due to employment, financial situation and - unfit housing conditions, resulting in e.g. a) that its financially more rational to buy a new home than invest in the renovation b) that there is a need of significant repairs before energy efficiency improvements (fixing the roof, chimney, leaks, humidity, upgrade of the obsolete electric system, lack of central heating, etc.), which would raise the costs of volume of work unbearably. - ack of alternative housing solutions during significant renovation works When measuring the variable Damage to house/apartment due to environmental/weather causes, it would be important to include the following: - Your home is not thunder-safe, and you experience more frequent thunderstorms. - Increased risk/recent experience of floods, excess water after heavy rains - Leaking - Damage in the roof, chimney, and windows due to storms We would also like to suggest measuring the following variables: - Need to move due to increased energy and housing costs - Type of fuel and heating method - Health impacts of energy use - Access to self-produced renewable energy - impact of heat waves Below are suggestions for possible questions and answers to measure our suggested variables. Have you had to move because of housing and energy costs in the last 10 years? If yes, did you move - to a home with better/worse energy performance (verbal guidance can be provided, e.g. glazed windows, insulation, centralized heating, renewable energy, etc.) - to a smaller home, - in a lower-quality home - further to your workplace, school, - in a settlement with less services What is the primary heating method of the home? - Individual stove - Air conditioning - Central boiler in the apartment - Central boiler in the building - District heating - Heat pump yes/no What is the primary heat source of the home? - Electricity - Natural gas - District heat - Wood log - Pellett - Coal - Other Do you have access to your own/community-based energy production? Impact of everyday energy use on health - The temperature in my home is inadequate as I cannot heat or cool it properly. - There is a fume inside due to heating or cooking. - My home is too humid and/or mouldy Damage to house/apartment due to environmental/weather causes - Your home is not thunder, and you experience more frequent thunderstorms. - Increased risk/recent experience of floods of rivers, creek canals near your home or excess water after heavy rains - Leaking - Damage in the roof, chimney, and windows due to storms Has the number of days when your apartment is too hot increased lately? Yes/no. If yes - Do you consider your building more vulnerable to heat than the average? - Do you have air conditioning? And shading? - Has your electricity bill increased significantly due to cooling? Thank you for taking into consideration our suggestions. We would be delighted to be involved in further discussion on these issues.
Read full responseFEANTSA urges priority for vulnerable groups in heat pump rollout
26 May 2023
Message — The federation demands 100% upfront funding for low-income renovations and installations through a dedicated fund. They also propose mandatory zero-profit quotas for manufacturers to ensure the transition is socially inclusive.12
Why — These measures would directly help the organization's mission to alleviate energy poverty.3
Meeting with Joost Korte (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
5 May 2022 · homelessness
Response to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU
28 Feb 2022
Dear Madam, Dear Sir, please find attached FEANTSA's position on the EPBD recast.
In this document, we argue that the EPBD recast is a praiseworthy intent but lacks adequate tools to deliver for the needs of the most vulnerable. We welcome the will to massively improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the EU, as it has the potential to bring significant social, health, and economic benefits to lower-income and vulnerable households through improved housing conditions. We welcome the call for Member States (MS) to address energy poverty through the implementation of mandatory energy performance standards (MEPS), the recognition of energy poverty and the requirement for MS to roll out enabling and financing tools and monitor social impact. However, we warn about the dramatic lack of financial support as well as dedicated financial instruments. We highlight the risk of unintended negative consequences as we believe that the text, in association with other related EU initiatives such as the extension of the ETS to building and transport and the Social Climate fund, is far from being sufficient to address the housing deprivation and energy poverty and could contribute to the rise in housing costs. The introduction of MEPS, as they currently stand, might well be counterproductive and fail to bring the social acceptability needed for the policy changes needed to reach the EU’s climate target.
We make recommendations for a more realistic and just EPBD revision:
- A new boosted and broadened Social Climate Fund with more financial means, whose impact would be better assessed, implemented earlier and not financed by the extension of the ETS could help finance the renovation of low-income households’ buildings.
- To guarantee a fair energy transition “leaving no one behind”, sufficient targeted financing needs to be secured at-risk households. New funding could be made available by using the European Central Bank’s “Targeted Long Term Refinancing Programme”.
- To target the renovations for those who need them the most, the residential sector should be prioritized.
- A definition of “worst-performing buildings” should be ensured to prioritise the renovation of those- including damp, cold, owner-occupied homes, and other forms of inadequate housing, as referred to in the ETHOS transnational framework.
- Member States shall support compliance with MEPS by providing funding targeting vulnerable households such as lowest-income households, people who are facing energy poverty.
- National building renovation plans should monitor the impact of the legislation change on people affected by energy poverty and on the population living in inadequate housing. The European Commission should carefully analyse these and promote good practices as well as "name and shame" MS that fail to implement the new EPBD recast in a socially fair manner.
- Social mechanisms such as a ban of renoviction, monitoring of rent increases, and the establishment of rent caps after renovations should be required by the EPBD recast directive as well as promoted through peer review and best practices exchanges.
- Member States shall provide technical and practical assistance to the energy-poor and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills, including through one-stop-shops which can ensure inclusivity. These should be run by trusted local actors and not be profit-driven.
- A better impact analysis of the EPBD implementation on vulnerable groups should be conducted.
- The Commission should impose that when MEPS are implemented, a percentage of the dwelling units are rented at affordable rent corresponding to social housing, on the model of France where the law imposes a percentage of social housing in cities. The Commission could guide the MS in creating “Social Rental Agencies” that would cover renovations by public funds in exchange for a commitment from the owner to rent at a low rent for 15 years.
Sincerly yours,
FEANTSA
Read full responseMeeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit), Christoph Nerlich (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)
7 Feb 2022 · role of the EU budget, and especially the ESF+, in tackling homelessness in the 2021 – 2027 period
Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and
13 Jul 2021 · Meeting on LGBTIQ homelessness.
Meeting with Joost Korte (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
19 May 2021 · homelessness
Response to Social Economy Action Plan
26 Apr 2021
FEANTSA is the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless. We are the only European NGO focusing exclusively on the fight against homelessness. Our goal is an end to homelessness in Europe. FEANTSA works with over 115 members across 28 countries including 24 EU Member States. Our members are predominantly NGOs working with homeless people, but also include other stakeholders involved in the fight against homelessness such as public authorities, social housing providers, foundations and research entities.
This Roadmap identifies social economy organisations with the role of providing social services, health care, social housing or affordable energy to the most vulnerable, thereby contributing to addressing homelessness. Indeed, the social economy can provide an important lifeline to social services. In many contexts they remain a vital component of the charitable and homeless sector, particularly where government funding is not available to secure these services. They also partner with homeless services to provide educational, training, and employment opportunities to build sustainable exits from homelessness.
The attached contribution identifies the added value and some limitations of the social economy in addressing homelessness.
Our main recommendations are:
1. The European Action Plan for Social Economy needs to link to, and convey policy messages arising from, ongoing policy initiatives under the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan. From the perspective of the homelessness sector, the European Platform for Combatting Homelessness, expected in Q2 of 2021 will be a flagship initiative to prevent and reduce homelessness in the EU. The innovative approaches and inspiring examples arising from the Platform should be channelled into the social economy sector via the European Action Plan for Social Economy.
2. Disseminate and promote models of social enterprises that are designed specifically for people experiencing homelessness and their unique needs and obstacles to accessing the labour market.
3. Ensure that enterprises that use the label ‘social enterprise’ are adequately assessed to measure their real social impact, in line with recommendations provided to the European Commission.
4. Recognise that homeless services are first and foremost not-for-profit organisations providing services. Though some choose to rely on an attached social enterprise to support part of their offering, this does not mean they are a social enterprises.
5. Safeguard against the creaming of those furthest removed from the labour market and ensure that vulnerable groups with complex needs are not further pushed away from the labour market.
6. Recognise that employment and social economy policies can play an important part in approaches and solutions to preventing and ending homelessness in Europe, but they are not a guaranteed solution to all of that challenges that a homeless person might face.
See also FEANTSA's position paper on the Social Economy Action Plan here: https://www.feantsa.org/public/user/Resources/Position_papers/A_European_Action_Plan_on_the_Social_Economy_to_Help_Fight_and_End_Homelessness_FINAL_(1).pdf
Read full responseResponse to Revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive 2010/31/EU
18 Mar 2021
Homelessness in the EU has increased by 70% in the last decade. It stands at around 700,000 people (level expected to increase as countries lift moratoriums on evictions put in place during covid). Eurostat reports that over the period 2007-2019 rents have increased by 21.0%. This increase has been decisive is fueling homelessness & housing exclusion.
If the European Commission (EC) is to push for stronger obligation to have Energy Performance Certificates &introduce mandatory minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for existing buildings, it is to establish them necessarily with safeguard mechanisms, to prevent this initiative from contributing to further rent increase. “Leaving no one behind” in the Green Deal requires explicitly recognising & addressing the social risks constituted by climate measures.
The EU is bound by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights when it takes EU actions, including the there enshrined right to housing assistance. FEANTSA demands adequate safeguards established as the basis for any MEPS initiative and will monitor the compatibility of the EC proposal for MEPS with the European Pillar of Social Rights principle 19 and the Charter of Fundamental Rights Article 34. FEANTSA welcomes the inception impact assessment recognition of these risks & the consequent need to establish ‘support policies to ensure affordability of housing’ & options ‘carefully designed (…) to minimize such negative impacts and keep the cost balance neutral for residents.” FEANTSA recommends the EPBD revision adopts an approach based on investment in housing as a social right, targeting lowest income homes and preventing gentrification:
1- A EU level engagement not just to higher standards of energy performance but to support Member States (MS) towards pursuing high social impact:
• Innovative funding mechanisms, based e.g. on the social & health cost saving that will be brought by retrofit of unfit housing,
• Ensure a definition of “worst-performing buildings” that includes an understanding of housing & living conditions. Target “worst-performing” housing including damp, cold, private rental sector & owner-occupied homes, Roma settlements, homeless shelters transformation (into housing first), to deliver massive improvements in living conditions in an energy-efficient way, bringing also high social impact.
2- Go beyond the presumption of energy savings. Energy performance gains of energy retrofit are often lower than expected & consequently savings for reimbursement of investment (through e.g. loans or on-bill financing) are not a one size fits all solution. Some people who would benefit most from renovation will not generate significant savings but will be able to live in decent conditions. There is an essential need for grants that will fund renovation for lowest-income groups, with no rent increase afterwards. The EC must ensure adequate funding is available for MS to fund renovation of worst-performing buildings & lowest-income groups inadequate housing through:
1)Earmarking of European funding
2)Establishment of a dedicated EU “cold homes” fund that could partly be funded through contributions from major MNC of the building industry benefiting from the Renovation Wave.
3-Support to the development of national policies & financing to overcome the split incentive (100% grants for renovation instead of loans for lowest-income property owners, subsidies to multi apartment building renovations, support to social rental agencies to both mobilize vacant housing stock & support small property owners to renovate& rent at a social rate.
4-Support MS to make renovation part of a broader anti-poverty strategy, curtail increase in rent prices, reach lowest-income groups. Monitor the impact of renovation on poor households& prevent gentrification through rent caps, ban of renoviction, monitoring of rent increases.
5-Tailor renovations & regeneration to the needs of existing populations rather than on return on investment.
Read full responseResponse to European Child Guarantee
2 Oct 2020
FEANTSA was the housing expert for the feasibility study on the child guarantee(CG). We welcome the roadmap’s recognition of the negative impacts of deprivation in childhood, as well as its proposal for a Council Recommendation set to support “children in need”. It is through targeted intervention that policy action can address the situation of children most in need.
As recalled by the roadmap, the goal of the CG is to break the cycle of poverty. As shown in the feasibility study, housing is a cross cutting social right particularly at risk for the 4 target groups the CG aims to support. In most Member States (MS), suffering from income poverty, living in a single-adult household or coming from a migrant background increases the risk of severe housing deprivation. Children leaving institutions, children with disabilities or special needs are also generally at risk to suffer from a more difficult access to adequate housing.
Long-term affordable &quality housing is widely recognized as a prerequisite to access employment, well-being, health, education &social integration. It is a means - not an end - to the protection of all social rights. It should be at the core of the CG.
The roadmap misses out on a key aspect of housing exclusion: homelessness. Despite the lack of data available, there is significant evidence of increasing family homelessness in Europe. Family & female homelessness are also often not captured by official homelessness statistics. These families may be elsewhere (e.g. sofa surfing, domestic violence services), facing hidden homelessness.
The consequences of homelessness on all, & on children in particular, are well established: it affects mental &physical health, educational results. There is evidence of strong inter-generational dynamics in homelessness. Homelessness is a violation of children’s rights, the most extreme manifestation of child poverty.
The roadmap recalls the insufficient results of the 2013 Commission Recommendation. The new tools proposed are necessary but insufficient to trigger a political momentum for change. FEANTSA calls on the European Commission to use the CG as a real opportunity to make housing exclusion and homelessness of children a policy priority and leverage cross sectoral action:
1-The CG must include the aim to end child homelessness within the shortest time possible.
2-A strategic guidance on a more targeted use of ESIF funds should reflect this priority.
3-Prevention is decisive to stop the spiral towards homelessness & housing exclusion. General prevention through the welfare system is important but not sufficient. Targeted prevention focusing on established pathways into homelessness is necessary. Key policies such as a ban of families’ evictions “to nowhere” and rapid rehousing when needed, must be promoted through the CG.
4-Data collection is crucial. The CG framework must encourage MS to better capture &report comparable data about children and family homelessness. Children & family homelessness should be monitored in the framework of the implementation of the CG.
5-Shelters&temporary accommodation can never be a solution. Recourse to these settings as a response to family homelessness should be minimised &reduced. The CG must ensure these arrangements, if they happen, must be time-limited, child-friendly, providing a safe protective &supportive environment enabling the family to stay together.
6-Well designed, targeted housing allowances are proven to be one of the most effective policies to support children’s access to adequate housing. The CG must support MS to provide a holistic targeted housing allocation system. This should go hand in hand with massive investment from EU funds into scattered social housing dedicated to the most excluded families with children.
7-The CG must coherently be linked to the action Plan on the European Pillar of Social Rights and participate to the EU fight against homelessness, making Principle 19 of the Social Pillar a reality.
Read full responseResponse to Delivering for children: an EU strategy on the rights of the child
30 Jul 2020
FEANTSA (European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)welcomes the European Commission (EC) proposal to focus the EU strategy on the right of the child on vulnerable groups& states its determination to support this focus.The consequences of homelessness on people in general &on children in particular are well established: homelessness affects mental& physical health, educational results. Homeless children are more likely to become homeless adults. Child homelessness is a reality in Europe e.g. in Paris, the emergency accommodation 115 number was unable to provide emergency housing to about 50 families per month back in 2000. In October 2019, 12 000 families per month were not offered any housing solution after having called 115. The share of children (-18) among the homeless population can be up to 1/3 as reported in Ireland and Flanders for instance.Housing inadequacies have also negative impacts, particularly on children, for instance ill-health, accidents, low educational outcomes, lack of well-being (lack of light, space to play, etc.)& increase in the risk to perpetuate the poverty cycle. Housing inadequacies can take many forms e.g. inability to keep homes adequately warm, overcrowding, noise, damp. While severe housing deprivation plagues a massive proportion of the population in Eastern countries, children in the rest of Europe are not spared. In Portugal, Austria, Greece and Italy, around 7-8% of children are affected by severe housing deprivation(Eurostat).Long-term affordable &quality housing is recognized for being a prerequisite for access to employment, well-being, health, education &social integration. It is a means - and not an end in itself- to the protection of all social rights &should therefore be at the core of the EU strategy on the rights of the child.FEANTSA calls on the EC use the EU strategy to support children & families most at risk of homelessness & housing exclusion & to base it on the following priorities;
1-The EU strategy should integrate in its definition of vulnerability also the housing conditions of children& families.
2-The EU strategy should include the objective to end child homelessness within the shortest time possible.
3-Prevention, through for instance support to Member States (MS) to provide adequate poverty reduction measures and service provision, will play a decisive role in stopping the spiral towards homelessness before it starts. Key policies such as a ban of families’ evictions “to nowhere” &rapid rehousing when needed, should be promoted through the EU strategy.
4-Data collection is crucial. The roadmap plans for the EU strategy on the right of the child to be informed by available Eurostat data. This strategy should also be informed by Eurostat data on adequate housing& should broaden its ambition to more and better comparable data collection on homelessness.
5-Shelters& temporary accommodation should never be the solution, but when they are, they must be child-friendly, providing a safe protective& supportive environment.
6-Well designed& targeted housing allocation is proven to be one of the most effective policies to support children access adequate housing. An EU strategy on the right of the child must support MS to provide a holistic targeted housing allocation system that will enable families & children to access adequate, affordable stable housing. This should go hand in hand with massive investment in scattered social housing dedicated to the most excluded families.
7-An EU strategy on the right of the child must support local governance and collaboration among stakeholders who provide the last and decisive safety net for families and their children.
8-The 13th European Forum on the Rights of the Child must include a focus on housing and homelessness
The EU strategy on the rights of the child must address families homelessness and housing exclusion,so that no child is homeless& so that families can stay together in facing such hardship.
Read full responseMeeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)
3 Jul 2020 · homelessness
Response to Commission Communication – "Renovation wave" initiative for the building sector
7 Jun 2020
FEANTSA(the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless)developed its expertise on energy poverty&adequate housing in the framework of its work on housing solutions.We call on the European Commission (EC) to ensure coherence between its commitments to carbon neutrality &social rights (right to housing). We welcome the EC’s ambition to target the social housing sector&low-income housing, often found in the private rental&owner-occupied sectors. We believe that the latter is particularly critical &hard to reach.However, we are not convinced that this alone will suffice to ensure that no one is left behind.We call for the RW to address housing exclusion, fuel poverty &energy efficiency goals.Many people in the EU struggle to access &keep decent housing. This has become one of the defining social challenges of our time as 9% of poor households in the EU live in severe housing deprivation&40% are overburdened by housing costs.This has massive knock-on effects for health & well-being:according to Eurofound, inadequate housing costs EU economies €194 billion per year. Leaving no one behind requires recognising &addressing the social risks constituted by climate measures in the context of housing, through addressing:1)inadequate housing conditions of low-income households, including through energy efficient renovation 2)risks associated with the transition (potential exclusionary effects of energy retrofitting). Ensuring that vulnerable “housing consumers” benefit from the RW will require a regulatory&financial framework that safeguards their access to decent affordable housing. This framework must prevent the RW from contributing to housing exclusion (increased costs).To “leave no one behind” the RW will need to actively target hard-to-reach households. Attention must be given for the RW to support the transformation of low-income multi apartment buildings, particularly in Eastern Europe as well as co-owned properties as an essential element in the renovation chain both from an environmental&social point of view.We welcome the roadmap’s objective to ensure “affordability of housing&reducing the costs linked to energy consumption” but call for the EC to give more attention to housing exclusion dynamics to avoid processes of gentrification.
The EC must adopt a more strategic approach for the RW to be just &inclusive:the EU must promote public policies that will integrate energy performance standards into a comprehensive housing quality strategy& provide adequate tools so that the transformation is primarily of benefit to poor households(tenants & individual homeowners).We recommend:
-Set-up a regulatory framework to curtail soaring property prices&maintain rent levels after renovation.Facilitate public financial support to low-income households to be able to stay in their house
-Monitor the impact of renovation policies on poor households
-Address non-take up by facilitating access to public financing schemes through,e.g. one stop shops, develop incentive programs, especially for poor households, through zero-interest loans &grants for renovating
-Apply energy performance standards not just to construction but to the rental market.Provide support for individual homeowners &poor homeowners in this transition
-Develop policies &financing tools to overcome the split incentive between landlords&tenants;go beyond the presumption of energy savings e.g.to address the situation of people who are living in damp/cold homes
-Target the RW in priority to retrofit low-income cold homes with high potential to deliver warmer homes (cf.Court of Auditors Report on Energy efficiency in buildings)
-Include targeted energy efficiency retrofit measures to address energy poverty and poor housing conditions in the Just Transition Fund’s scope (for social housing, low-income and vulnerable tenants and homeowners) to enable synergies with the RW
-Ensure that the RW will not support investment that could lead to housing exclusion
Read full responseMeeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and
13 May 2020 · Videoconference on the convention on homelessness.
Meeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and
5 May 2020 · Migrants’ challenges in the current COVID-19 crisis and their contribution to economic recovery
Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and
29 Apr 2020 · Videoconference meeting on social support care service and COVID-19
Response to Fast-track interservice consultation on the 'SEIP including a JTM and the JTF"
12 Mar 2020
Please see FEANTSA's position on the Just Transition Fund proposal in attachment.
Read full responseMeeting with Ylva Johansson (Commissioner) and
14 Feb 2020 · Consultations on the New Pact on Migrations
Meeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Cabinet of Commissioner Nicolas Schmit)
27 Jan 2020 · homeless
Meeting with Maria Luisa Cabral (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)
22 Jan 2020 · Pillar of Social Rights
Meeting with Ruth Paserman (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)
21 Jan 2020 · Homelessness
Response to Evaluation of the support to social inclusion by the European Social Fund
16 Jan 2019
FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless) welcomes the planned evaluation of the support to social inclusion (TO9) by the European Social Fund. We make the following suggestions :
- The evaluation should specifically explore how ESF delivers on “leaving no one behind” by addressing needs of most excluded groups, including homeless people. Without specific efforts to assess the reach of the ESF to the most excluded, a full assessment of its social inclusion impact is not possible.
- On the basis of EPSR Priority 19, the planned evaluation should pay particular attention to the way the funds have been used to address homelessness and ensure housing rights
- Given the need for EU added value, the evaluation should assess the extent to which ESF is used as a lever to improve policies and services in relation to social inclusion, including in the field of homelessness.
- The evaluation should specifically engage relevant EU networks like FEANTSA and their national members, including our ongoing evaluation and identification of best practice in the use of ESF to address homelessness.
We look forward to supporting the Commission and the contracted evaluators with this assessment.
Read full responseMeeting with Florentine Hopmeier (Cabinet of Vice-President Jyrki Katainen) and European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities and
22 Oct 2018 · Discussion on addressing social sector needs in the InvestEU Programme
Meeting with Luc Tholoniat (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker) and European Anti Poverty Network
5 Sept 2018 · Situation et priorités sociales en Europe
Response to Multiannual Financial Framework – European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
24 Jul 2018
Given the political context, FEANTSA welcomes the proposal to dedicate a total amount of €101 billion over seven years to the ESF+, including a 25% earmarking for social inclusion and tackling poverty, and a minimum 2% reserved for the most deprived “to address the most extreme forms of extreme poverty (…) such as homelessness”.
If the total amount was to decrease, FEANTSA urges the European institutions to adopt an increased percentage dedicated to social inclusion and support to the most deprived, so as to maintain an acceptable level.
This statement outlines FEANTSA’s main recommendations on the proposed ESF+ and Common Provision Framework.
ESF + and Deinstitutionalisation
FEANTSA welcomes article 6.2 of the ESF+ new regulation that states its support specifically to “targeted actions to promote (…) the transition (…) to family and community-based care”. It is particularly welcome as a generic provision applying to all Member States for all parts of the ESF+.
This confirms FEANTSA’s and the European Expert Group on the Transition from Institutional to Community based Care (EEG)’s perspective on the need for European funding to suport family and community-based care. FEANTSA underlines that the time dimension of institutionalization is important. For some groups short periods in institutional care might be unavoidable, but the time they stay there must be as short as possible. This is in line with Housing-Led and Housing First policies to address homelessness most effectively, that are emerging throughout Europe and must benefit from a financial support from the ESF +.
Indicators – general ESF + strand
FEANTSA welcomes the presence of a common output indicator for the general support of the ESF+ strand under shared management (Annex 1.1.b) on homeless or people affected by housing exclusion. FEANTSA also welcomes the flexibility of the provision which specifies that the values can be based on estimates. Estimates must be grounded in reality and clearly present the reality they intend to describe (e.g. the difference between the number of single users of a service, and the number of daily users).
ESF+ support for addressing material deprivation (chapter III)
FEANTSA welcomes the proposal for the continuation of a funding dedicated to the most deprived, following on the current FEAD (“European fund for aid to the most deprived) and the requirement for Member States to allocate at least 2% of their ESF+ resources for measures targeting the most deprived.
However, FEANTSA underlines its concerns about:
o the lack of a more precise definition of ‘most deprived persons’ in article 2 (13). Indeed, the objective criteria that establishes the need for assistance are, once again (as in the current FEAD), fully left to national authorities. It would be beneficial in terms of consistency at EU level to provide more precise guidelines on how to define most deprived persons. Homelessness should be explicitly included in the definition of most deprived persons; and the definition could be based for instance on living situations, referring to the European Typology of Homelessness developed by FEANTSA.
o Another serious point of concern for FEANTSA is the optional nature of the social inclusion measures: the structure of the allocation to support the most deprived clearly gives preference to material support (former FEAD Operational Program 1). This is a true change of nature of the program which previously provided a real, equal, choice to Member States, would could choose Operational Program 1 (material assistance, including accompanying measures of social inclusion) or Operational Program 2 (social inclusion).
PLEASE READ THE FULL POSITION ATTACHED (including proposals for amendments)
Read full responseResponse to Common provisions on the ERDF, the ESF+, the CF, the EAFRD, the EMFF and AMIF, ISF and IBM
24 Jul 2018
o FEANTSA welcomes article 6 on partnership as a strong direction given to the need to strengthen cooperation with relevant civil society organizations. FEANTSA also welcomes the fact that, being placed under the Common Provision Framework, the partnership principle will also apply to the AMF.
o FEANTSA supports the political indication of a commitment to social objective through the references to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, European Pillar of Social Rights (under policy objective 4 of “a more social Europe”) and the requirement for anti-poverty strategies, that include specific actions on homelessness (annex of the regulation ):
However, there is a risk that the alignment with the European Semester does not translate into an alignment with the European Pillar of Social Rights’ third pillar on social protection but focuses more narrowly on activation. It will be very important according to FEANTSA that EU funds remain available for support to the most excluded and those furthest away from the labour market.
o FEANTSA welcomes the thematic Enabling Conditions first in their overall simplification and the monitoring of their implementation throughout the process (and not just at the beginning of the process)
More specifically, FEANTSA strongly supports the thematic enabling conditions 4.3 applicable to the ESF and ERDF (ANNEX IV: Thematic enabling conditions applicable to ERDF, ESF+ and the Cohesion Fund – Article 11(1)) which state that some of the fulfilment criterions for the enabling condition, are a national strategic policy framework for social inclusion and poverty reduction that includes
Evidence-based diagnosis of poverty and social exclusion including on homelessness
the shift from institutional to community-based care. Something new here is that this applies to all EU Member States and not only to those with identified needs as to a specific need for deinstitutionalisation.
Point 4.3.4 for the ESF reinforces this call by requesting measures to promote community-based services, including prevention and primary care, home-care and community-based services as fulfilment criteria for the enabling condition.
Read full responseResponse to Legislative proposals for ERDF/CF, ETC (Interreg) and ECBC
24 Jul 2018
FEANTSA welcomes article 2 on Specific objectives for the ERDF and the Cohesion Fund which includes a specific objective on 'a more social Europe implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights' ('PO 4'), which shows a stronger commitment to invest in social Europe also through regional and economic development. FEANTSA particularly welcomes the reference to “iii) increasing the socioeconomic integration of marginalised communities, migrants and disadvantaged groups, through integrated measures including housing and social services”, which is vital to address the challenge of tackling and combating homelessness through integrated actions of housing and social services. However, we would like to ensure that such measures are eligible in the future framework and therefore would like to see it reinforced. This should be included both in the specific objectives and in the indicators.
For more information, please find the attached statement as well as a joint position between FEANTSA and Housing Europe here: https://www.feantsa.org/download/feantsa-housing-europe-position-paper-on-reduction-in-cohesion-policy5940247077916218072.pdf
Read full responseMeeting with Frans Timmermans (First Vice-President)
24 Apr 2018 · Homelessness and housing exclusion
Meeting with Baudouin Baudru (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)
2 Mar 2018 · Multifinancial Framework
Meeting with Baudouin Baudru (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen) and Eurodiaconia and The Salvation Army EU Affairs Office
26 Jan 2018 · Implementation of the European Pilar of Social Rights and the design of the new Multiannual Financial Framework
Meeting with Inge Bernaerts (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen), Vasiliki Kokkori (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)
16 Jan 2018 · Homelessness and housing exclusion
Meeting with Ruth Paserman (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen), Vasiliki Kokkori (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)
29 Mar 2017 · Campaign “Be fair Europe", extreme poverty, European prize for the best ESF funded homelessness project, report on the state of homelessness and housing exclusion.
Meeting with Stefaan Hermans (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)
15 Mar 2016 · Presentation of Canadian Government project on integration of homeless youth
Meeting with Mathieu Fichter (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu)
15 Dec 2015 · Social issues and Urban Agenda
Meeting with Nicola De Michelis (Cabinet of Commissioner Corina Crețu)
15 Dec 2015 · Social issues and Urban agenda
Meeting with Paula Duarte Gaspar (Cabinet of Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis)
27 Oct 2015 · Health inequalities within the homeless community, access to care
Meeting with Monika Ladmanova (Cabinet of Commissioner Věra Jourová)
19 Oct 2015 · Violence against homeless women
Meeting with Peter Van Kemseke (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)
25 Aug 2015 · Energy poverty and energy efficiency
Meeting with Stefaan Hermans (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen), Vasiliki Kokkori (Cabinet of Commissioner Marianne Thyssen)
14 Jul 2015 · Meeting on the Commission’s social policy agenda
Meeting with Raquel Lucas (Cabinet of Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis)
18 Dec 2014 · Homelessness
Meeting with Michel Servoz (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
16 Dec 2014 · Presentation of Feantsa's activities and discussion of policy responses to combat homelessness
Meeting with Luc Tholoniat (Cabinet of President Jean-Claude Juncker)
12 Dec 2014 · Priorités de l'UE dans le domaine social