On 16 December, the European Commission published the European Affordable Housing Plan, setting out how the EU can support Member States, regions and cities in delivering more affordable, sustainable and good quality housing.

The Plan responds to a growing housing crisis across Europe. Between 2013 and 2024, prices for buying and renting homes increased much faster than incomes, making access to housing increasingly difficult for many people.

Among these people, people with disabilities face additional barriers. They are at higher risk of homelessness, inadequate living conditions, and a lack of accessible housing, while necessary adaptations are often costly. Moreover, institutional settings often fail to meet the standards of adequate housing, as they can isolate individuals from the community and limit their right to choose where and how to live.

EASPD has actively contributed to the EU debate on housing, stressing the need for accessible, inclusive and community-based housing to support independent living, and prevent institutionalisation and highlighting the role of support providers for persons with disabilities as key stakeholders to shape better housing policies.

What’s inside?

While the Plan includes some positive elements, it misses the opportunity to make a real difference in scaling up the right to housing and advancing deinstitutionalisation. It is built around four pillars: boosting housing supply, mobilising investment, supporting reforms, and helping those most affected by the crisis. It includes measures to increase housing supply through a more innovative construction sector, skills and training initiatives, and simplified rules to speed up housing development and renovation. It also proposes new and reinforced investment tools, including a Pan European Investment Platform, increased use of EU funding, and revised State aid rules to make it easier to support affordable housing. In addition, the Plan strengthens EU level coordination through the creation of a European Housing Alliance and recognises the need to address homelessness, housing exclusion and the shortage of accessible housing.

The Plan reflects several key EASPD priorities, particularly on investment, accessibility, housing quality and stronger governance. However, important gaps remain. There are no binding accessibility targets for existing housing, no clear link to deinstitutionalisation strategies, and no dedicated funding for disability inclusive housing.

In conclusion, the Plan is an important step forward for improving general access to housing. However, continued advocacy will be essential to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in Europe’s housing response and that community-based services effectively support access to housing.

Find here the EASDP Study and recommendations on inclusive housing.