Drawing on the national reports produced by the ESPAN country teams in the 27 Member States, it reviews inter alia: the scope of the definitions of homelessness across EU countries; the current situation regarding homelessness in the various countries; the national strategic frameworks to combat homelessness; homelessness-related measures included in anti-poverty strategies/policies and in other key social policy areas (including minimum income/ social assistance, access to healthcare services and access to social services); and governance arrangements.
The analysis shows that, while in most countries there are clear elements that enhance synergies between homelessness and anti-poverty policies, challenges remain. These include housing shortages, regional disparities, and budgetary and implementation issues.
The analysis also highlights the importance of coordinated, cross-sectoral approaches to effectively combat homelessness and reduce poverty and social exclusion — a perspective highly relevant for research and policy debates in Luxembourg and beyond.
The study concludes with recommendations for improving integration and complementarity between homelessness and anti-poverty policies, with calls for actions suggested at both national and EU levels.
