Written by Marketa Pape.
Access to housing in the EU has become problematic in recent years. Demography and urbanisation-related structural factors, aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, soaring energy prices, the cost-of-living crisis and (already high) housing prices that keep rising are preventing many people from accessing decent housing solutions. The lack of affordable housing supply only adds to this situation. These difficulties affect not only low- but now also middle-income households, as well as specific vulnerable groups, among them young people. Overall, there is not enough ‘social housing’ provision in the EU to meet increased demand.
While both the EU and the United Nations recognise the right to housing, the longstanding crisis in housing affordability has had an adverse impact on people’s living standards, well-being and social inclusion. This is especially the case with young people, many of whom are struggling to access any form of decent housing, in particular in cities. Throughout the EU, the number of young people experiencing homelessness is on the rise.
The primary responsibility for housing policies in the EU lies with the Member States, while the concrete provision of social housing is often ensured by regions and cities. The EU has no direct competence in the area of housing and only a limited scope of action to address social issues, yet it provides relevant guidance and funding. Furthermore, certain EU rules have an indirect impact on housing provision.
This briefing provides an inexhaustive overview of what is being done across the EU to improve housing affordability in general, with a specific focus on making housing accessible to young people.
Several recent developments could be seen as paving the way to a new approach to the provision of affordable housing in the EU.
Read the complete briefing on ‘Social and youth housing in the EU‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
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