Introduction – Context and Origin
The article “The hidden link between Europe’s housing crisis and energy poverty” is published by Horizon Magazine, a platform that disseminates EU‑funded research and innovation findings. It is authored by Gareth Willmer, a journalist covering policy and scientific studies for the magazine. The piece draws on an EU‑funded study and the PREFIGURE project, examining how housing affordability and energy poverty intersect across European cities.
Scope of the Crisis
European households are facing a dual challenge: nearly 10 % of citizens experience a “housing cost overburden”, spending more than 40 % of disposable income on rent, mortgage and utilities. At the same time, about 10 % of Europeans cannot keep their homes adequately warm, highlighting a parallel energy‑poverty problem that affects both heating and, increasingly, cooling needs.
Research Methodology and Sample
The investigation combines qualitative case studies of 16 local initiatives with large‑scale surveys of roughly 30 000 households across eight EU countries. Additional data stem from a second survey of around 15 000 households performed by the HouseInc project, focusing on marginalised groups such as migrants, Roma communities and Ukrainian refugees.
Local Initiatives – Karlsruhe, Germany
Karlsruhe’s two‑decade cooperative housing programme provides renovation subsidies, vacant‑home allocation for the homeless and energy‑efficient retrofits. Early results indicate a noticeable reduction in homelessness and improved heating performance for participating households. 🇬🇷 Thessaloniki, Greece In Thessaloniki, the social rental agency Housing Thessaloniki is renovating 40 long‑empty homes for vulnerable residents, with plans to add 60 more within three years and hundreds thereafter. The city’s housing cost overburden is the highest in the EU, driven largely by energy expenses.
Barcelona, Spain – WikiHousing
The WikiHousing project engages young adults (18‑30) alongside architects and builders to design, prefabricate and manage energy‑efficient public housing. It also develops an open‑source construction model that other cities can adapt for low‑carbon, affordable homes.
Community‑Based Approaches
All three initiatives illustrate the value of “learning communities” that bring together residents, local authorities and researchers. Such networks facilitate knowledge exchange, enable co‑creation of solutions and help scale successful practices across borders.
Findings on Inequality and Energy Access
The HouseInc team identified systemic barriers for marginalised groups: Roma residents often lack legal residency, Ukrainian refugees face short‑term funding gaps, and many households live in energy‑inefficient dwellings. Survey data show that energy‑related costs compound existing housing unaffordability, especially in regions with older building stocks.
Policy Recommendations
Researchers advocate for integrated housing strategies that treat homes as part of broader urban infrastructure. Recommendations include:
- Coordinated policies that address rent, mortgage, heating and cooling together.
- Long‑term funding mechanisms to sustain renovation and social‑rental programmes.
- Capacity‑building for local authorities to assess community needs and deliver targeted interventions.
Conclusion – Towards Sustainable, Inclusive Housing
The study underscores that tackling Europe’s housing crisis requires simultaneous action on affordability and energy efficiency. By linking these policy fields, municipalities can promote greener homes without exacerbating social inequities, supporting the EU’s broader climate and social objectives.