“Local governments face major constraints in addressing the increasing problem of homelessness, such as those related to financial resources or administrative capacity. Solid action frameworks are therefore needed to respond effectively, based on multilevel governance approaches involving local, regional and national authorities and their respective partners, including civil society organisations, working together in a coherent manner,” stressed James Moloney (Ireland, ILDG), Congress Rapporteur on Social Housing Innovations, in Strasbourg on 3 December 2024.

Speaking at the Conference on addressing homelessness through social investment, organised by the Council of Europe Development Bank, he pointed out that the Congress will be tackling the housing crisis in European cities and regions by focusing on social housing in its forthcoming report on social housing innovations, aimed to propose a multilevel response to the problem.

The Congress Rapporteur also highlighted some existing tools for local authorities to deal with homelessness, including urban planning tools, zoning regulations and building inventories, the increased production of affordable housing units and the protection of tenants – for example, through rent control or stronger regulations against evictions.

Further contributions to debates as regards multilevel responses against homelessness were made on behalf of the Congress by Mayor of Bratislava’s Lamač City District Igor Polaković (Slovak Republic) and André Riemer from the German Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building.