housing

Children’s well-being: investing in a healthy future - a silent emergency in Europe

On 27 March, the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Daciana Octavia SÂRBU (S & D, RO) hosted a seminar on child health, nutrition and education policies. In her speech, EPHA Secretary General Monika Kosińska highlighted why is it important to put child well-being at the heart of EU policies. In her speech, MEP Daciana Octavia SÂRBU (S&D, RO) stressed that good and healthy nutrition have a crucial impact on children life expectancy and that the role of the parents in (...)

[Save the date] FEANTSA Seminar - Housing Rights in Hungary

For the past few years, the Hungarian government has been systematically targeting homeless people (even criminalising them), while failing to ensure sufficient support services and appropriate accommodation. EPHA Member FEANTSA (the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless) and Housing Rights Watch (HRW), along with partners in Hungary, will hold a seminar to bring allies together to consider legal and political strategies to combat this alarming trend in (...)

No Place Called Home in Hungary for Homeless People

An unjustifiable persecution of homeless people is one of the outcomes of a controversial modification of the Hungarian Constitution earlier this month. The amendment allows municipalities to ban homeless people from public spaces which will not only create further legal and social conflicts, but will worsen the situation of thousands of homeless people in Hungary. © Photo source: A város mindenkié blog As EPHA recently reported, Hungary has been hit hard by the economic crisis. Among (...)

Addressing fuel poverty in deprived urban areas

A practical example from the United Kingdom on how to tackle several social determinants of health (e.g. housing and energy) and have climate change benefits: In the last 18 months, more than 1,600 houses in the poorest parts of Stockton-on-Tees (United Kingdom) have benefited from free energy efficiency measures to cut local carbon emissions and reduce fuel bills. As well as external cladding, many homes have also received new boilers, central heating systems and internal insulation (...)

Links between Housing Situation, Noise Pollution & Adverse Health Effects

A recent pan-European study has reviewed the factors which influence how annoyed a person feels about road traffic and aircraft noise. Among its findings, residents in terraced housing or apartments were less annoyed by road traffic noise than residents in semi-detached or detached housing. People who are exposed to long-term noise may experience annoyance as well as health problems, including high blood pressure (hypertension). This study, conducted under the EU HYENA project [[HYENA (...)

Hungary accused of persecution of the poor

In Autumn 2010, the Hungarian Law on Constructions was amended to allow municipalities to ban homeless people from public spaces. The Hungarian Parliament imposed a $700 fine or jail upon those who repeatedly broke municipal laws regarding “residential habitation in public spaces.” Although this law was ruled unconstitutional by the Hungarian Constitutional Court, the Hungarian Prime Minister has announced that the government intends to prohibit street homelessness in the (...)

"On the Way Home" FEANTSA Monitoring Report about progress made on homelessness in Europe

FEANTSA, the European Federation of National Organisations working with the Homeless has published a report that monitors progress on homelessness in Europe. This important report focuses on the extent and nature of homelessness in the EU’s member states and analyses policy progress in tackling homelessness over recent years, based on the input of national experts from 21 countries.

Irish Presidency of the EU to host informal meeting of ministers responsible for homelessness on 1 March

The Irish Presidency of the EU is hosting an informal meeting of ministers responsible for homelessness on 1st March 2013. FEANTSA, Eurodiaconia, Caritas Europa and Red Cross EU Office have sent a joint letter welcoming this initiative to the Irish Presidency. They formally wish the meeting every success and outline some key areas for discussion. FEANTSA, Caritas Europa, Eurodiaconia and the Red Cross EU Office welcome the Irish Presidency of the EU Council’s announcement of an EU (...)

[Seminar report] Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing

The event ’Tackling Health Inequalities through Investing in Housing’ focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing. It emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. Evidence shows that decent housing is an important social and environmental determinant of health These determinants lie outside of the health sector . Nevertheless, neither health professionals nor health policymakers (...)

[Joint Press Release] Tackling poor housing is the first step towards reducing health inequalities

Brussels, January 25 – On January 22, the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing (CECODHAS Housing Europe) held a joint conference with the European Parliament’s Urban Intergroup. The event focused on the connection between health inequalities and affordable housing and emphasised that investment in good quality housing can bring returns in health and environmental outcomes. The European Commission (DG (...)