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Parliament calls for an EU-wide strategy for the homeless
MEPs again press the Commission for a European strategy for the homeless, following a similar appeal in a resolution in 2011 and proposals from other EU institutions and bodies, in a resolution adopted on Thursday.
An EU homelessness strategy should focus on housing, cross-border homelessness, quality of services for the homeless, prevention and homeless young people, says Parliament in the resolution adopted by 349 votes to, 45, with 113 abstentions.
The immediate responsibility for tackling homelessness lies with EU countries but an EU strategy has a complementary role to play, say MEPs.
Homelessness has become a priority for the EU’s anti-poverty policy under the Europe 2020 strategy and the EU Social Investment Package. It is also receiving increasing attention in the EU Semester system for coordinating member states' economic policies and the national reform programmes.
Homelessness is not a crime
Poverty is not a crime and homelessness is neither a crime nor a lifestyle choice, stress MEPs. They underline the urgent need to combat any form of discrimination against the homeless and the marginalisation of entire communities.
