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Fédération Européenne d'Associations Nationales Travaillant avec les Sans-Abri

FEANTSA

FEANTSA is the European federation of national organisations working with people experiencing homelessness.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Aleksandra Baranska (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera Rodríguez) and Climate Action Network Europe and

12 Jan 2026 · Social Climate Fund, ETS 1 revision and ETS2

Meeting with Tiemo Wölken (Member of the European Parliament)

18 Nov 2025 · ETS II, Social Climate Fund

Meeting with Stefan Moser (Head of Unit Energy)

17 Nov 2025 · Development and implementation of policies to combat homelessness. Meeting with European Platform on Combatting Homelessness (EPOCH) with the participation of MS and stakeholders involved in the fight against homelessness, including FEANTSA

FEANTSA calls for guaranteed EU funding to end homelessness

29 Oct 2025
Topic — The European Commission is consulting on the next long-term EU budget.
Message — The organization requests that the Commission ringfence specific funds for homelessness and prioritize social housing over market-oriented projects. They also demand that climate spending be specifically earmarked to protect vulnerable households from energy poverty.12
Why — Specific funding targets would prevent member states from diverting social inclusion money toward infrastructure projects.3
Impact — Migrants and asylum seekers lose as funding shifts from social integration toward border enforcement and security.4
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FEANTSA Urges EU Anti-Poverty Strategy to Prioritize Ending Homelessness

24 Oct 2025
Topic — This consultation addresses the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy and its social targets.
Message — The organization demands a specific homelessness target and robust monitoring of national policies. They call for scaling up Housing First solutions through dedicated EU funding.12
Why — Increased EU funding for targeted social housing would help prevent homelessness and displacement.3
Impact — Wealthy families lose their current dominance over public subsidies for energy efficiency renovations.4
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Meeting with Dan Jørgensen (Commissioner)

13 Oct 2025 · Housing costs and homelessness

Response to Heating and cooling strategy

9 Oct 2025

FEANTSA welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the EU Heating and Cooling Strategy and urges the inclusion of a strong social and equity focus. The heat transition will only succeed if it reflects the housing conditions and financial realities of low-income households. Without clear social targeting, the strategy risks deepening inequality and missing major climate and health benefits. Across Europe, millions still depend on polluting solid fuels. In Central and Eastern Europe, widespread firewood use among low-income households inflates renewable statistics while worsening air quality. E.g. in Hungary, half of the poorest households rely on firewood, often burned in outdated stoves. This must be recognised as both a social and health challenge requiring affordable, clean alternatives such as insulation, efficient stoves, and small-scale or district heating suited to low-income homes. Poor housing is a key obstacle to decarbonisation. Around 15% of EU citizens live in damp, unsafe, or inadequate dwellings, many without basic amenities. Improving housing conditions is a prerequisite for clean heating. A repair-first approachfixing roofs, wiring, chimneys, and dampshould come before energy efficiency upgrades or heat pump installation. Such investments quickly pay off through better health and lower costs. Funding schemes often fail to reach those most in need. In Germany, 41% of renovation subsidies go to top-income households, and only 2% to the lowest. Similar patterns exist in Italy and Austria, where pre-financing rules exclude low-income families. FEANTSA calls for social earmarking of EU and national energy-efficiency funds, proportional support for poor regions and households, and full upfront cost coverage for the poorest households through grants and direct-to-contractor payments. The strategy should make energy-poor households the firstnot lastbeneficiaries of clean and affordable heating. It must fully apply the energy efficiency first principle, reach vulnerable households proportionally with energy savings (Article 8 EED) and target finance in priority for vulnerable households (Article 17 EPBD). Insulation and electrical upgrades should come before technology deployment. The Social Climate Fund, already too small to offset ETS2 impacts, should focus on structural renovation instead of leasing schemes that risk higher bills or stranded assets. Cooling must also be recognised as a basic need. People in inadequate housing and those experiencing homelessness are among the most exposed to heatwaves. The strategy should prioritise passive cooling measures with upfront subsidies and technical assistance for building managers. Examples show that equitable decarbonisation is achievable. New York States Climate Leadership Act dedicates 3540% of climate investments to disadvantaged communities. In Europe, Habitat for Humanity Hungarys masonry stove replacements and the UKs Swaffham Prior heat network show that affordable, circular, and community-led approaches can deliver both social and environmental gains. Recommendations: 1.Recognise solid-fuel dependence as a structural and public health issue. 2.Apply repair-first and efficiency-first principles in low-income housing. 3.Guarantee equitable access through upfront support and social earmarking of EU and national funds. 4.Align clean heating and cooling goals with the Affordable Housing Plan and national renovation plans. 5.Map and address regional solid-fuel hotspots through targeted local programs. 6.Evaluate district and geothermal heating with full cost-benefit analysis, including health gains. 7.Apply an equity framework such as the Justice-in-100 Scorecard to assess distributional impact and access. A successful Heating and Cooling Strategy must link decarbonisation with housing adequacy, health, and affordability. Social targeting, territorial fairness, and repair- and efficiency-first principles will make the transition both effective and just
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Response to Electrification Action Plan

9 Oct 2025

FEANTSA welcomes the EU Electrification Action Plan (EAP) but warns it could deepen inequality unless households in energy poverty are prioritised and social safeguards are built in. 1. Energy poverty Policy discussion often overlook structural issues around electrification. Many low-income households cannot replace inefficient appliances or pre-finance upgrades and electrifying heating and cooling could raise their costs without targeted support. 2. Renovation firstincluding wiring Before electric heating, worst-performing homes must be renovated. In classes FH, heat pumps are costlier than gas; installing them without renovation raises bills and peaks. Renovating these homes delivers the biggest savings. About 132 million dwellings have obsolete wiring; electrical checks and upgrades should be obligatory, with aid for low-income households. 3. Replace inefficient appliances Basic-income recipients in Germany spend more on energy because they use old devices and cannot handle extraordinary costs; a survey of 1,014 recipients reports hardship and debt. Belgiums Papillon model7/month rental of efficient fridges/washerscuts bills and arrears and supports reuse. 4. Rental housing Landlords decide; tenants pay. Heat-pump rollouts in unrenovated buildings can inflate tenant bills. Under contracting/heat-as-a-service, costs are often passed through. In Germany, LEGs contracting doubled heating costs; after tenant action it was rolled back and a 20,000-flat model cancelled. Condition electrification on efficiency and tenant protection. 5. Flexibility limits Dynamic tariffs and smart meters mainly benefit well-insulated, higher-income homes. Low-income tenants in leaky buildings cannot shift demand (heat retention ~2h vs ~12h). Germanys Sperrzeiten allow up to three daily two-hour heat-pump shut-offs for lower tariffs, but poorly insulated homes cool quickly and need extra hardwareill-suited to vulnerable groups. 6. Social tariffs Rising-block tariffs can secure an affordable essential band while pricing higher use. Well-designed social tariffs are needed. 7. Electricity-cost support Many schemes fail to prevent debt. In Germany, electricity support is a lump sum that lags real costs; Caritas reports arrears and disconnections. Spains Bono Social under-protected recipients. In Hungary, energy debts can be garnished up to 50% of income. Policy should prevent, not just manage, arrears. 8. Fair grid-cost sharing Grid charges weigh most on low-income households, especially in CEE countries. FEANTSA backs progressive, capacity-based designs so high-capacity users pay more. 9. Equitable renewables The Lightbringers project in Mária Telep (Baks, Hungary) installs low-tech solar kits for weak roofs, powering ~300W of essentials for 510k per home. 10. Collective solutions Individual heat pumps are not always optimal. New Yorks 2022 utility thermal network law shows how neighbourhood ambient loops can provide heating/cooling. EU planning should compare individual vs collective options. Recommendations 100% grants for the bottom two income deciles for renovation, wiring and appliance replacement; rising co-financing above that. Earmarked EU and national funds Monitor arrears and fund local energy-advice centres. Make wiring upgrades mandatory before electrifying heating (focus on ~132m obsolete homes). Tie electrification to renovation (efficiency first). Protect tenantsespecially under contractingso costs arent shifted to them. Introduce social tariffs and minimum-supply guarantees; dont rely on flexibility alone. Make grid tariffs progressive and capacity-sensitive. Support community renewables in energy-poor areas. Require cost-benefit tests comparing individual with collective solutions. Bottom line: electrification will meet climate and social goals if the EAP hard-wires renovation, safety, tenant protection, progressive pricing and income-targeted supportso the poorest benefit first, not last.
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Meeting with Olivér Várhelyi (Commissioner) and

2 Oct 2025 · All pressing portfolio topics

Meeting with Gelu Calacean (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

29 Sept 2025 · Policies related to the fight against homelessness in the EU

Meeting with Agnese Papadia (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

23 Sept 2025 · Homelessness

Meeting with Alina-Stefania Ujupan (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu), Triinu Volmer (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu)

11 Sept 2025 · Meeting on homelessness

FEANTSA urges 100% grants to fix unfit housing for poor

10 Sept 2025
Topic — The initiative aims to protect energy consumers while ensuring a just transition.
Message — FEANTSA calls for fixing basic housing flaws like leaking roofs before pursuing electrification. They advocate for 100% grants and extending protections to firewood users.12
Why — This shift would ensure that public funds effectively reach and benefit the poorest citizens.3
Impact — Wealthier households would lose the exclusive public subsidies and tax rebates they currently enjoy.4
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Meeting with Raquel Cortes Herrera (Head of Unit Secretariat-General)

27 Aug 2025 · Overview of the evolution in homelessness

Response to Number and the title of the variables for the 2027 ad hoc subject 'Mental health and well-being'

21 Aug 2025

Housing is one of the most important determinant of mental health. There is plenty of evidence (from research and practice) that shows overcrowding, affordability and lack of quality (mould and rot for instance) leads to poor mental health. It also known that adequate housing leads to better mental health. It would therefore be useful to add a question on the relation between the housing situation and mental well-being.
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Response to Review of the State aid rules on the Services of General Economic Interest (“SGEI”)

25 Jul 2025

FEANTSA recognises that applying EU rules on State aid can be an important barrier to MS attempts to address the effects of the longstanding housing crisis. We encourage the Commission to take all necessary actions to address those barriers. However, we doubt the proposal to include affordable housing in the SGEI Decision is the best way forward. The extent to which social and affordable housing are clearly defined, distinct segments of the housing system varies between MS. In most, it is not currently the case. The Commissions proposal is likely to sharpen this distinction and favour the further development of affordable housing as a separate segment to social housing. This represents a major change entailing serious risks for the future of social housing. We highlight the fact that housing exclusion is concentrated amongst low-income households in Europe. In terms of ensuring the right to adequate housing for all, increasing the amount of investment available for social housing seems to us to be a more urgent priority than developing a new offer of affordable housing. A central argument underpinning the proposed revision of the rules is that the definition of social housing as an SGEI precludes the provision for households other than the most vulnerable. However, it is questionable whether this argument bears out. Several MS currently provide State Aid to social housing that caters to a broad swathe of the population under the current regime. In France, 60% of the population is eligible; in the Netherlands, even after the introduction of an income ceiling, 40% of the population remains eligible for social housing. MS have a lot of liberty to define who they consider to be disadvantaged, socially less advantaged or subject to solvency constraints as per the current definition of SH. It is possible to include middle income groups, key workers etc. Before including affordable housing as SGEI, we would encourage MS and the Commission to further explore how the current framework can best be applied to ensuring that social housing systems are able to respond to the current housing needs in any given context, including amongst middle income groups. We question whether the definition is the real problem, or whether the difficulty lies more in proving the lack of overcompensation and separation of accounts. MS have limited funding available to support interventions in the housing market. Investment in public and social housing has declined in most countries in recent years. Most countries do not have an adequate level of social housing. In this context, the risk that State Aid for affordable housing may crowd out State Aid for social housing seems very high. Nothing in the Commissions proposal reassures us that this will not happen. A reorientation of public spending with higher-rent forms of social and affordable housing is ongoing in many countries, to the detriment of the most vulnerable. We question the relevance of minimum energy performance standards in the Commissions proposal and are concerned about a tension between providing State Aid to improve the energy performance of the building stock and to ensure the right to adequate housing for all. We highlight the fact that the Commissions proposal includes no definition of affordable conditions. If affordability is defined only in relation to market prices, there is a risk that it does not cater for genuine needs. If affordability is defined as a proportion of income, it may exclude lower income households. In our view, affordability should be defined in relation to the households capacity to pay for housing whilst meeting other basic needs. We highlight the fact that MS can already provide State Aid to affordable housing projects with prior notification. Given the risks entailed in the proposed change, we encourage the Commission and MS to use notification for affordable housing and to maintain the current provisions on social housing as SGEI.
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Meeting with Christine Singer (Member of the European Parliament)

9 Jul 2025 · Tierhaltung

Meeting with Philippe Moseley (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

2 Jul 2025 · Housing

Response to LGBTIQ Equality Strategy

9 Jun 2025

Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) are still experienced by too many people in the EU. The latest available data, published by the Fundamental Rights Agency from a 2023 survey, confirm that equality is still far off. Over one third of LGBTIQ+ people in Europe face discrimination in their daily life, and about the same percentage have had suicidal thoughts, increasing to more than 50% for trans, non-binary and gender-diverse people. Unfortunately, it seems the situation has worsened in many respects since the previous survey of 2019. For example, more than half of the people in 2023 said they have been victims of hate motivated harassment, compared to one third in 2019. Regarding homelessness among LGBTIQ+ people, which the same survey also asks about, the numbers are gloomy. Almost one in every five people surveyed in 2023 (18.7%) had experienced homelessness at least once in their life: 12.9% had to stay with friends and relatives temporarily, 2.7% had to stay in inadequate accommodation - that is, a place not intended as a home, 2% in emergency or temporary accommodation, and 1.1% had to sleep rough or in public spaces. While data from Eurostat in 2018 revealed that 4% of Europeans experienced one of the four types of homelessness mentioned above, this is almost five times less than among LGBTIQ+ people. Likewise, FEANTSA estimated that approximately 0.2% of the EU population in 2023 were either living rough, in emergency accommodation or in accommodation for the homeless, while 3.1% of LGBTIQ+ people in the FRA 2023 survey reported either having slept rough or in emergency accommodation. We should not forget that behind these numbers there are individuals deprived of their right to human dignity, as homelessness is one of the most acute violations of human rights. Having stable and safe housing is essential to develop oneself and a pre-condition for the enjoyment of many other human rights.
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Response to European Affordable Housing Plan

2 Jun 2025

On behalf of FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless, we would like to first emphasize the importance of evidence-based policy in the drafting of the Affordable Housing Plan and the related initiatives. If the Plan is to address the housing crisis, statistical data shows who are the ones most severely impacted by it: the number of people experiencing homelessness in Europe is estimated at 1,2 million at least; housing cost overburden rate is 30% in the first income quintile, falling to 8% in the second, and 4% in the 3rd; the overcrowding rate is 28% in the first income quintile, 20% in second, 15% in the third; housing cost overburden rate is twice as high among private renters as amongst homeowners or social housing tenants. If the Plan is to address housing in a human rights framework, it should prioritise the people whose right to adequate housing is violated (people experiencing homelessness, living in inadequate or overcrowded housing etc.). It follows that the Plan should adopt a needs-based approach. It should help produce & safeguard housing that is affordable and accessible for low income and vulnerable households, including those who are homeless. Social and public housing is the most affordable type of housing for poor households and a crucial factor in addressing and preventing homelessness. We are concerned that, without proper protection of and investment in this sector, the shift towards the more general term of affordable housing will not help deliver housing for the ones that most urgently need it. Homelessness is very often invoked as a justification for housing policy choices. However, the extent to which these choices actually benefit homeless households is rarely properly assessed. Much of what is labelled as affordable housing in Europe today is unaffordable and inaccessible to homeless people and those at risk. To address this, the plan should include a specific focus on re-housing homeless people and scaling up good practices like Housing First. Regarding inadequate housing and more specifically energy poverty, in 2023 15.6% of EU population & 23.5% of people at risk of poverty were living in homes with damp, leaks or rot; 1 in 10 households couldn't heat their home properly (2023), while 6.9% were in utility arrears (2024). Poorer households can only afford to rent or buy cheaper & lower-performing homes that come with higher running costs (energy, maintenance). While in Hungary/Slovakia lowest income households spend ~1,000/year on energy that represents 16-20% of their income, in Denmark ~3,000 energy costs equal ~6% share of income - this shows deep inequalities between EU countries. Moreover, the difference between the annual net income of the lowest income quintile in Hungary and the Belgian average annual net income is 9 fold, while the difference in renovation costs is ~2-3 fold. Thus renovation costs compared to income are more affordable in higher income countries. We also want to point to issues of funding gaps and misallocation: renovation schemes benefit middle/upper-income households and exclude poor ones due to upfront payments, tax-based delivery and low credit access; issues of informal housing/ employment, lack of digital/admin capacity block the poorest from accessing renovation facilities. Last but not least, weak social targeting equals missed health, economic and energy gains. In terms of concrete proposals to address energy poverty, evidence shows that public investment in energy efficiency for the lowest income homes generates the highest and fastest returns in terms of improved health and lower arrears. To that end, we are calling for earmarking EU funds for worst-performing buildings & lowest-income households; 100% coverage of renovation + structural repairs for the poorest; adding technical/admin support tailored to vulnerable groups.
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Meeting with Matthew Baldwin (Deputy Director-General Energy) and European Construction Industry Federation and

2 Jun 2025 · Housing, homelessness, social housing, sustainability, short term rental accommodations, construction

Meeting with Halliki Voolma (Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib)

21 May 2025 · Women experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness

Meeting with Ana Carla Pereira (Director Justice and Consumers)

20 May 2025 · Exchange of views on homelessness and the link with the Equality Strategies and upcoming Affordable Housing initiative

FEANTSA urges EU to include health in renovation calculations

7 May 2025
Topic — The consultation revises the methodology for calculating cost-optimal energy performance requirements for European buildings.
Message — FEANTSA calls for systematically incorporating social benefits into the methodology for calculating energy performance requirements. They argue health impacts from improved housing can significantly offset renovation costs.12
Why — Including health benefits justifies more public investment into housing for the low-income groups FEANTSA supports.3
Impact — National treasuries would face higher immediate costs for fully subsidizing energy renovations for low-income citizens.4
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Meeting with Brigitte Fellahi-Brognaux (Head of Unit Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) and Fédération Habitat et Humanisme

23 Apr 2025 · Housing for vulnerable groups – Presentation of the activities of Habitat et Humanisme

Meeting with Agnese Papadia (Cabinet of Commissioner Dan Jørgensen)

16 Apr 2025 · Housing

Meeting with Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Apr 2025 · Clean Industrial Deal

Meeting with Mirka Janda (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto)

1 Apr 2025 · FEANTSA’s position on the Clean Industrial Deal

Meeting with Irene Tinagli (Member of the European Parliament, Committee chair)

26 Mar 2025 · Working group meeting

Meeting with Irene Tinagli (Member of the European Parliament) and Fondazione Think Tank ECCO ETS

17 Mar 2025 · Introductory meeting

Meeting with Sonia Vila Nunez (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu), Triinu Volmer (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu)

25 Feb 2025 · Housing and homelessness

Meeting with Jiri Svarc (Head of Unit Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)

20 Feb 2025 · Rresentation of FEANTSA’s activities and of their views on homelessness in Europe.

Meeting with Miron Podgorean (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu)

14 Feb 2025 · Activities of FEANTSA and the role of EPOCH

Meeting with Roxana Mînzatu (Executive Vice-President) and

11 Dec 2024 · Homelessness

Meeting with Gelu Calacean (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

4 Sept 2024 · Affordable Housing Plan and homelessness

Meeting with Joost Korte (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)

12 Sept 2023 · Future European election and the new Commission

Meeting with Ciarán Cuffe (Member of the European Parliament) and European Disability Forum

18 Jul 2023 · Exhibition opening event on homelessness

Response to EU Citizenship Report 2023

12 Jul 2023

(Please see the attached file for the full contribution). FEANTSA welcomes this call for evidence and hereby submits our contribution and recommendations to help mobile EU citizens pushed into destitution and homelessness. Our submission focuses on the gaps and irregularities in the transposition and implementation of Directive 2004/38; FEANTSA strongly believes these factors must be recognised and addressed by European legislation and initiatives such as the EU Citizenship report 2023. We highlight the ambiguity of terms and concepts related to residency and citizen rights (i.e., worker). Through this Member States are able to implement interpretations restricting the accessibility of residency for vulnerable EU mobile citizens, and their subsequent ability to exit destitution. Furthermore, we outline how COVID-related border restrictions and limiting the access to social rights and public spaces reinforced discrimination against destitute mobile EU citizens, and circumstances for the exploitation of said citizens by ill-intended employers. Where access to healthcare, social and housing service was enabled for mobile EU citizens in homelessness or facing precariousness, this was quickly shut down after the end of the pandemic. We finalise our suggestions with references to relevant case law which defends the rights of Mobile EU citizens and urge the European Commission to monitor the lack of compliance from multiple Member States.
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Meeting with Nicolas Schmit (Commissioner) and

2 Mar 2023 · The European Platform for Combatting Homelessness

Meeting with Joost Korte (Director-General Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)

24 Jan 2023 · Homelessness