Addressing homelessness through housing-led approaches aligned with the New European Bauhaus

Social and affordable housing is being advanced in the EU, including through the Affordable Housing Initiative[[European Commission, ’Affordable Housing Initiative‘, European Commission website, accessed on 29 September 2025, https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/proximity-and-social-economy/social-economy-eu/affordable-housing-initiative_en]](si apre in una nuova finestra). Despite efforts, current policies for the green transition are failing to adequately address the housing crisis. Homelessness remains a structural challenge across Europe, with negative impacts on both individuals experiencing it (e.g. physical and mental health, social and economic conditions) and neighbourhood communities[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] (e.g. pressure on public services, erosion of social fabric[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]], etc.).

Research and innovation gaps in tackling homelessness range from data collection (i.e. the variety of approaches to defining, measuring and monitoring homelessness), to integrating housing-led approaches with resilience strategies for homeless populations in a climate-changing world.

Housing-led approaches cover diverse policy responses to homelessness that provide immediate and permanent access to housing, targeted prevention, and needs-based, person-centred support services across several areas of the individual’s life while giving homeless populations a high degree of choice and control.

This topic focuses on developing and/or updating housing-led approaches that apply NEB values[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] and principles[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]]. Such approaches are expected to cover measures ranging from upstream preventive measures to those giving access to green, low-carbon, climate-resilient, health-promoting and socially inclusive housing that ensures quality of experience for homeless populations across neighbourhoods in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Refine and demonstrate at least three housing-led approaches in at least three neighbourhoods (in urban, peri-urban and rural areas) located in different Member States and/or Associated Countries, that:
  • Are adapted to the specific characteristics of the neighbourhoods where the approaches will be applied (e.g. existing local/national regulations, composition of the population, cultural differences, existing infrastructure, etc.).
  • Provide permanent housing to homeless people, as defined by the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion[[ FEANTSA, ’ETHOS Typology on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion’, accessed 26 August 2025, https://www.feantsa.org/en/toolkit/2005/04/01/ethos-typology-on-homelessness-and-housing-exclusion]](si apre in una nuova finestra) complemented by services that (re-)integrate homeless populations in their local community.
  • Integrate plans for the green transition of the permanent housing, taking into consideration climate mitigation and adaptation aspects (for instance, through the inclusion of renewable energy solutions and/or nature-based solutions[[See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]]) and the social dimension of living conditions for a conflict-minimised cohabitation of different social groups.
  • Are co-created[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] with the targeted homeless populations, paying special attention to families with minor children, and people temporarily hosted by acquaintances and family.
  • Include measures to address the institutional barriers that hinder access to housing in the selected neighbourhoods.
  • Present the highest potential for replication and adaptability to local specificities.
• Develop and implement a methodology to monitor, analyse and document the effectiveness of the selected approaches in reducing homelessness compared to conventional approaches, building upon the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion[[ FEANTSA, ’ETHOS Typology on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion’, accessed 26 August 2025, https://www.feantsa.org/en/toolkit/2005/04/01/ethos-typology-on-homelessness-and-housing-exclusion]](si apre in una nuova finestra). The methodology is expected to ensure the comparability of data and results across neighbourhoods.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] and transdisciplinary[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] approach through the integration of different actors and disciplines.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH)[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP26-27.]] disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Proposals are encouraged to explore synergies with successful proposals from the topic ‘HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01: Structurally addressing homelessness through coordinated social infrastructure and services in neighbourhoods’ to exploit opportunities for increased impact.

Proposals are expected to allocate at least 0.8% of their budget for engaging with the Horizon Europe-funded 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' to share their intermediate and final results, findings and learning, as well as to contribute to impact assessment.