1989-2019: FEANTSA Marks 30-Year Anniversary of Working to End Homelessness in Europe

2019 is set to be an important year for the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) as it marks the 30-year anniversary since its establishment as the only European-wide NGO working exclusively to end homelessness. Over the past 30 years, FEANTSA has been at the forefront of great advancements in the understanding of the nature, extent, causes of and solutions to homelessness. These huge leaps forward in knowledge and research have contributed to shaping government policies, both at the national and European level, to promote the development and implementation of effective measures to end homelessness.

As a centre of expertise on homelessness, FEANTSA has promoted and facilitated the exchange of information, experience and good practice between FEANTSA’s member organisations and relevant stakeholders as well as raising public awareness about the complexity of homelessness.

Unfortunately, these advancements in knowledge have been accompanied by shocking increases in the number of homeless people across the EU. Children now make up the largest group of people in emergency shelters. Women, young adults, the working poor, people with a migration background and the LGBTIQ community are also increasingly numerous among the homeless population.

While homelessness is now a permanent feature in the EU’s social policy, most recently highlighted through the European Pillar of Social Rights, there is still a long way to go to meet the goals set out in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, one of which is to eradicate extreme poverty. In order to reach this goal, FEANTSA reiterates its call on the EU institutions to:

Set a goal of eradicating homelessness in Europe by 2030
Support homeless people across all relevant sectors (health, migration, housing, gender, youth, employment etc.)
Monitor progress in homelessness and housing exclusion at Member State level
Defend the rights of homeless people
Invest EU funds into eradicating homelessness in the next funding period of 2021-2027

Help us to stand up for homeless people. We do not want to be here in 30 years’ time.