Preventing homelessness and expanding access to affordable housing topped the agenda in Brussels this week as the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) discussed new EU measures to tackle housing exclusion.

The debate comes as Cyprus continues to report a lower-than-average risk of poverty and social exclusion, despite growing housing pressures across Europe.

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Housing Rises On The EU Agenda

The committee focused on preventing homelessness, supporting people in insecure housing and expanding social and affordable housing.

EMPL Chair Li Andersson said homelessness should be treated not only as a housing issue but also as a matter of social inclusion and prevention. Although housing policy remains largely a national responsibility, she said the EU can support member states through coordination and the sharing of best practices.

Ciaran Mullooly, vice-chair of Parliament’s housing committee, said the proposal, presented alongside the EU’s first anti-poverty strategy, reflects the growing importance of housing within European social policy.

He noted that 92.7 million people, or 20.9% of the EU population, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, while around one million people were homeless. House prices have risen by more than 60% across the EU over the past decade, while rents have increased by more than 20%.

The proposal promotes early intervention, eviction prevention, Housing First policies and greater investment in social and affordable housing. It also calls for stronger support for vulnerable groups and would introduce five-year reviews to monitor progress.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

According to the latest Eurostat data, 17.1% of Cyprus’ population, or around 167,000 people, were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, compared with the EU average of 20.9%.

Women remained more exposed than men, while severe material and social deprivation fell to 2.2%. Cyprus also recorded the EU’s second-lowest child poverty or social exclusion rate at 14.8%, although older people continued to face a significantly higher risk than the EU average.

The debate reflects a broader shift in EU policy, with housing affordability increasingly viewed as a social challenge requiring earlier intervention and stronger public support, rather than solely a housing market issue.