19th October 2026
The Simon Communities of Ireland has welcomed the adoption of the Council Recommendation on Fighting Housing Exclusion and Homelessness today, describing it as an important step towards strengthening the response to homelessness across Europe and ensuring everyone has a safe and secure place to call home.
The Simon Communities of Ireland has supported the FEANTSA campaign on an EU Council Recommendation on ending homelessness, for a number of years. Since last year, Simon Communities of Ireland has urged the Irish Government to use the opportunities with the Irish Presidency to advance the Council Recommendation that combines prevention and emergency support with measures aimed at delivering long-term, secure housing solutions. It calls on EU Member States to strengthen homelessness prevention, improve access to social services and increase the supply of social and affordable housing, adopting a person-centered, housing-led approach.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director of Simon Communities of Ireland, said:
“We welcome the adoption of this Recommendation as an important step towards ensuring that homelessness and housing exclusion receive the attention and coordinated action they urgently require.
The Simon Communities of Ireland has consistently called for a meaningful European commitment to tackling homelessness, and it is encouraging to see prevention, access to affordable housing and person-centered support reflected in this framework.
We would like to commend the work of the Irish Officials in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who have been integral in negotiating a strong document, having the word ‘homelessness’ included in the title, and in pushing forward for the prompt adoption today.
However, adoption is only the beginning. We now need to see this commitment translated into meaningful action by the Irish Government, with clear priorities, adequate resources and measurable progress towards ending homelessness.
Everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home. Single adults experiencing homelessness must not be overlooked. Behind the statistics are people who deserve the same opportunity to access a secure home and rebuild their lives. We need to ensure that our policies, housing provision and support services reflect the reality of people’s experiences and that nobody is left behind.”
The Council Recommendation on Fighting Housing Exclusion and Homelessness was initially announced in December 2025 in the context of the European Affordable Housing Plan, the EU’s first comprehensive strategy to support Member States, regions and cities in addressing the housing crisis. The proposal was published on 6 May 2026 as part of the EU’s first-ever Anti-Poverty Strategy.
ENDS
For further information contact: Aileen Gaskin 086 166 2160 / communications@simoncommunity.com
