One of the common NGO messages in this European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion is to end street homelessness, a problem that is growing in some EU countries. But why is it getting bigger despite government efforts? What are they doing wrong? How can they change this situation?
The European Parliament was the venue for the launch of FEANTSA "Ending Homelessness" campaign on the 14th of April, an opportunity to debate the ways in which EU can facilitate effective action to tackle homelessness and get people out of social exclusion. Tackling homelessness is established as a political priority in the EU strategy for social inclusion and the 2010 Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion calls on Member States to develop integrated strategies to tackle homelessness. "We have to be ambitious because the situation is more difficult than before", established László Andor (Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion)
- Commissioner Andor speaks on opportunities for EU action on homelessness.
In this context, FEANTSA is promoting specific policies, which are needed in order to understand the problem and achieve the common goals:
- No one sleeping rough
- No one living in emergency accommodation longer than is an ‘emergency’
- No one living in transitional accommodation longer than is required for successful move-on
- No one leaving an institution without housing options
- No young people becoming homeless as a result of the transition to independent living
The high price of the rents and the low salary go hand in hand for this group and, as consequence, poverty is getting younger because they can’t afford the rent with a low-paid job, explained Karima Delli (MEP).
- MEPs and FEANTSA with the Common Statement.
"We have no choice but success because of the high expectations", said László Andor
In 2010, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is held by the governments of Spain and Belgium. Representatives from both countries took part in the hearing explaining the commitment they have given to the fight against homelessness in a highly important year for the European community. With an eye on the 2020 strategy, an ambitious package of EU-level actions is needed; decisions can’t be relegated on the local authorities because this will create bigger problems. Speakers agreed that there must be EU and national strategies in order to reach goals, following up the European Parliament Written Declaration on Ending Street Homelessness adopted in 2008, which calls on the European Council to agree on an EU-wide commitment to end street homelessness by 2015.
- Many people attended to the event.
The event was co-organised by FEANTSA, Liz Lynne MEP, Britta Thomsen MEP, Karima Delli MEP, Ilda Figueiredo MEP, and Jacek Protasiewicz MEP. Speakers included László Andor, European Commissioner, the panel of the above MEPs, Eric Marlier, International Senior Advisor CEPS/INSTEAD, René Kneip, FEANTSA President, Peter Juul, Head of Division, Danish Ministry of Interior and Social Affairs Carlos García de Cortázar, Coordinator on Employment and Social Affairs in the Spanish Permanent Representation and Philippe Courard, Belgian Secretary of State for Social Integration and the Fight against Poverty.
Commissioner Andor: “homelessness must be a top priority for the next decade”
Speaking at a European Commission conference on the results of Mutual Learning on Active Inclusion and Homelessness, László Andor, European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, stated that homelessness must be a “top priority for the next decade”. Commissioner Andor concluded the conference, which had featured expert speakers such as policy-makers, stakeholders, researchers and representatives from projects across the EU that have implemented initiatives on homelessness and active inclusion, two important themes in the EU Open Method of Coordination for Social Protection and Social Inclusion. The conference was also an opportunity for actors working on homelessness and inclusion to contribute to strategic workshops on homelessness and housing exclusion, active inclusion, children and youth, financial exclusion, and governance and the EU social inclusion process. In a panel discussion, FEANTSA President, René Kneip, highlighted recent progress made at EU level on the issue of homelessness and called for the development of an EU homelessness strategy.
The hearing was followed by the opening of an exhibition of sculptures of homeless people by the Danish artist Jens Galschiøt, presented by FEANTSA member Projekt UDENFOR.
For the program and the speakers’ presentation: Feantsa website
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