Resource context
This policy brief, “European Manifesto to Lead the Way out of the Housing Crisis”, is published by Housing Europe (the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing). The document is presented as a call from 100 public, cooperative and social housing providers, alongside policymakers, researchers and fellows, urging a shift in EU housing policy to address housing exclusion and decarbonise Europe’s residential stock.
Why the manifesto argues the crisis is worsening
The text links the housing crisis to recent disruptions affecting Europe’s social fabric, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy and cost-of-living crisis intensified by the war in Ukraine. It states these shocks have exacerbated pre-existing problems such as lack of affordable housing, rising homelessness, higher construction costs, social segregation and energy poverty.
Key data points used to illustrate pressure on affordability
The manifesto cites Eurostat data showing residential property prices in the EU were 50% higher in Q3 2023 than at the start of 2010, while rent prices increased by 23% over the same period, with some countries experiencing rent increases of more than 100%. It also references Housing Europe estimates based on Eurostat figures that 9.6 million full-time workers aged 25–34 lived with their parents in 2022—described as one in five people in that age group—indicating difficulties accessing affordable housing on the private market.
Step 1: Embrace a new housing paradigm (policy and governance)
The first set of proposals focuses on strengthening public, cooperative, social and community-led housing as the backbone of national housing systems. The document calls for public debt and deficit rules to better reflect the long-term social return on housing investment, and for State Aid rules not to prevent Member States from responding to the crisis. It also proposes including housing exclusion indicators in the EU Semester and regulating short-term rental platforms to limit negative impacts on housing availability and affordability. To operationalise this shift, it proposes a Task Force led by a European Commission Vice-President to mainstream the “new housing paradigm” across EU policymaking.
Step 2: Back a movement for a fair energy transition (decarbonisation and funding)
The second step positions the social and affordable housing sector as central to meeting EU climate goals while maintaining affordability. It argues EU green policies should include low-carbon housing supply targets “beyond renovation” to meet demand. It calls for simplified access to 19 EU funding and financing streams, paired with clear social criteria, and supports district-level decarbonisation that delivers affordable, age-adapted, well-connected homes using local resources. It further links renovation and circularity to local supply chains, job creation, social enterprise and biodiversity, and highlights the role of digital and technological advances. The proposed implementation mechanism is a transformative fund designed to harmonise existing tools and provide annual earmarked support for socially responsible renovations.
Step 3: Address root causes to end housing exclusion (homelessness and services)
The third step frames access to decent, affordable housing as a preventive measure against homelessness and broader exclusion. It cites FEANTSA data that homelessness increased by 70% between 2010 and 2020 and states that around 900,000 people experience homelessness on a given night in the EU. It calls for an integrated approach to eradicating homelessness by 2030 and proposes long-term partnerships between housing providers, social services and local authorities to address support needs (including migration, youth, older age, family breakdown and cost-of-living pressures). It also calls for skills development initiatives involving social services, local authorities and actors across the social and affordable housing sector, and proposes making housing exclusion a core component of impact assessments for EU policies, leveraging platforms such as the European Platform for Combatting Homelessness.
Housing Europe’s role and reach (organisational context)
The document describes Housing Europe as a network founded in 1988, comprising 42 national and regional federations and 15 partner organisations across 31 European countries. It states members collectively manage around 25 million homes, representing about 11% of existing dwellings in Europe, positioning the federation as a major actor in shaping socially inclusive and sustainable housing policy discussions at EU level.