Housing Europe, founded in 1988, is a federation based in Brussels that brings together 44 national and regional housing federations along with 16 partner organisations from 31 European countries. The group collectively manages around 25 million homes, representing roughly 11% of all dwellings in Europe. Its membership encompasses providers of public, cooperative, social, and community-led housing.
The organisation’s origins lie in the need for a unified voice on housing, particularly as access to affordable and quality homes became a critical issue across European cities. Over 35 years, Housing Europe has grown into a key actor in policy advocacy at the EU level, supporting its network through research, knowledge sharing, and analysis of housing trends. Its Secretariat in Brussels works closely with European institutions to contribute to policy debates affecting its members.
Recent projects have included focus areas like community-led and cooperative housing solutions to address affordability crises, exemplified through collaborations with organisations such as the Community Land Trust Brussels. Housing Europe also partners in EU-funded initiatives, aiming to demonstrate and scale innovative models for social and affordable housing. The federation’s work extends to hosting events, compiling statistics, and publishing research reports to inform policymakers and practitioners.
All of Housing Europe’s activities are aimed at strengthening the sector’s ability to provide affordable housing, analysing policy impacts, and disseminating best practices from across their network, with a particular attention to changes in policy environments and emerging housing challenges.