Concerned that winter is used as a convenient scapegoat in order to justify the deaths of homeless throughout Europe, FEANTSA urges policy makers to take effective actions to prevent human beings from freezing to death.
It is worthnoting that the EU Council of Employment and Social Affairs Ministers (EPSCO) concluded in march 2005 that the social aspect of the Lisbon Strategy should focus on 6 priority actions which essentially aim at combating the deep causes of poverty and exclusion. The treatment of homelessness is one of the 6 priority actions.
According to FEANTSA, it is vital that policy makers develop a holistic approach to homelessness, strengthening the importance of housing measures, as part of a rehabilitation process.
This approach is also highlighted in their response to the Green Paper on Mental Health.
