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

Expected outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Housing-led approaches [1] aligned with the NEB are made available to stakeholders involved in tackling homelessness [1] . Robust evidence on NEB-aligned housing-led approaches tackling homelessness (including people temporarily hosted by acquaintances and family) to inform the development and/or update of policies and services for prevention and early intervention in the context of the green transition [1] in neighbourhoods [1] .

Scope

Social and affordable housing is being advanced in the EU, including through the Affordable Housing Initiative [5] . 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 [1] (e.g. pressure on public services, erosion of social fabric [1] , 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 [1] and principles [1] . 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, cultur

What this means for cities and regions

Addresses homelessness through housing-led approaches aligned with the New European Bauhaus — combines Housing First methodology with neighbourhood-level inclusion design. Cities, social housing managers, social-services authorities and NGOs participate. Project size around €6.3 million per grant; close 1 December 2026.