New information on homelessness
28.3.2017
Question for written answer E-002132-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Neoklis Sylikiotis (GUE/NGL)
Recently published figures (e.g. Euroactive journal and Eurostat’s EU highest rates) show that housing conditions have taken a turn for the worse since 2015. In Germany, 16% of the population spend 40% of their income on housing. Greece ranks second in this phenomenon, known as housing cost overburden. Respectively, the following countries spend more than 40% of their income on housing as follows: 65% in Germany, 78% in Denmark, and 40% in the UK, while the EU average is 48%.
Furthermore, the number of homeless people is increasing in all Member States (except Finland), and in major European capitals. For example, the rate of newly homeless people increased by 75% in Copenhagen (compared to 2009) and by 37% in Warsaw, while one out of 70 people in Athens is homeless.
What action will the Commission take, considering that the means to address this situation exist, but they are not successful?