EU Council adopts recommendation on homelessness and housing exclusion
The Council of the EU adopted a non-binding recommendation urging member states to strengthen homelessness strategies, early warning and affordable housing supply.
The story in focus
The Council of the EU adopted a recommendation on 19 October 2026 urging member states to prevent and address homelessness and housing exclusion through housing-led, person-centred measures, including strategic frameworks, early detection, one-stop service access and more social and affordable housing.
- The Council adopted a non-binding recommendation combining emergency support with longer-term prevention measures.
- Member states are encouraged to adopt or strengthen strategic frameworks with measurable objectives.
- States should report to the Commission every five years on strategy effectiveness.
What the recommendation asks of member states
The Council of the European Union adopted a recommendation on preventing and addressing homelessness and housing exclusion. It calls on member states to adopt or strengthen strategic frameworks built on person-centred, housing-led policies, with relevant, time-bound, achievable and measurable objectives.
Measures include early detection of households at risk, such as early warning systems, and targeted interventions including debt counselling, safeguards against forced eviction, emergency rental assistance and mediation. The text also commits states to ensure no child is deprived of adequate housing and that young people leaving institutional or foster care have access to housing and support.
For people already experiencing homelessness, the recommendation proposes simplified access to services through a one-stop shop, with referrals to social security, social assistance and health services, plus tailored support plans delivered by multi-disciplinary outreach teams.
Housing supply and next steps
The recommendation links housing exclusion to a shortage of social and affordable housing. It sets out measures to boost supply, including public and private investment in new and renovated homes, better use of existing stock and support for alternative and non-profit housing models.
Under the next steps, member states are encouraged to update the Commission every five years on the effectiveness of their strategies. The Commission will then review national progress and report back to the Council five years after adoption.
The recommendation was announced in December 2025 under the European Affordable Housing Plan and proposed on 6 May 2026 as part of the EU's Anti-Poverty Strategy. The Council cites estimates that homelessness affects more than one million people across the EU.
Is the Council's recommendation legally binding on EU member states?
No. A Council recommendation is non-binding; member states are encouraged, not required, to adopt or strengthen strategic frameworks and to report to the Commission every five years on their effectiveness.
Sources & further reading
- A place to call home: Council adopts recommendation on addressing housing exclusion and homelessness ↗consilium.europa.eu
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