Housing is a basic and fundamental human right, recognised in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enshrined as Principle 19 of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
We believe housing is a common good, not a commodity. The housing market shows clear failures, distortions, and deep fragmentation due to gentrification, financialisation, and touristification.
80 million people in the EU are overburdened by housing costs, including many young people in all regions of Europe. Women, particularly single-parent households, face a heightened risk of housing insecurity and poverty. Housing policies must respond to their specific needs.
We are committed to stronger European coordination to cut costs, curb speculation, and guarantee access to affordable, sustainable homes. This must be matched by investments and funding, particularly in social and affordable housing, and real action to end homelessness.
Through years of campaigning, our political family has put housing on the European agenda. Our pressure delivered results, and we secured:
- The first European Commissioner for Housing, Dan Jørgensen;
- The European Parliament’s special committee on the housing crisis, which adopted its first-ever report in March 2026, addressing the severe housing crisis across the EU;
- In December 2025, we welcomed the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan;
- In September 2026, we welcomed the first Affordable Housing Act.
All were key demands of our Manifesto for the 2024 European elections.
The housing crisis remains one of Europe’s defining social challenges, and we will keep fighting until decent, affordable housing is a reality for everyone.
