FEANTSA Responds to the European Pillar of Social Rights
Yesterday, the European Commission published a European Pillar of Social Rights, which sets out 20 key principles in the social area. FEANTSA warmly welcomes the fact that Priority 19 is “housing and assistance for the homeless”, stating:
- Access to social housing or housing assistance of good quality shall be provided for those in need.
- Vulnerable people have the right to appropriate assistance and protection against forced eviction.
- Adequate shelter and services shall be provided to the homeless in order to promote their social inclusion.
This brings together various aspects of the right to housing in a new way at EU level. It establishes that everyone in the EU should have a decent home, with social housing or housing assistance provided to those who need it. People should be protected from eviction and no one should ever be left without shelter.
FEANTSA is hopeful that Priority 19 can become an actionable framework for real progress. We are campaigning for the EU to be fair, and stand up for homeless people. We will be working in the next weeks and months to ensure that the Pillar delivers more than the proclamation of housing rights.
We will work with the Commission, national governments, regions, cities and other stakeholders to turn Priority 19 into more political ambition and concrete measures to put an end to homelessness and secure the right to housing for all.
