Report warns of growing housing crisis in Europe
Young people are being disproportionately affected by the housing crisis across Europe, according to a new study.
The 6th Annual Overview of Housing Exclusion and Homelessness in Europe report, published by the Foundation Abbe Piere and FEANSTA warns young people on the continent are ‘most likely to experience housing exclusion’ as a result of the pandemic.
The report warns a ‘rapidly increasing’ part of the young population is not able to afford rent anymore and some are even struggling to pay for food.
It adds many young people have no other choice than to move back in with their parents, when this is an available option for them.
The report warns many of the social safety nets and the emergency measures taken by governments during the pandemic are not sufficient to protect young people.
According to Eurostat, almost 3m young people under 25 years old were unemployed in February 2021, which is an increase of 230,000 since the start of the pandemic. One out of three young people who lost their work and income during the pandemic are facing severe difficulties in maintaining or accessing a home.
And according to a recent Eurostat survey (2019), 4% of the EU population experienced homelessness at least once during their lifetime.
The report says the use of food banks, soup kitchens, and rent arrears is increasing across Europe and many Member States are struggling to come up with the right long-term solu- tions to prevent already vulnerable people from falling into severe housing exclusion and homelessness.
‘The homeless shelter sector is already under huge pressure in most EU member states and will not be able to absorb another surge in homelessness,’ the report adds.
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