In this concerning scenario, ensuring the provision of affordable and social housing must emerge as a top priority at EU level, particularly considering that 20% of respondents agreed (and an additional 37% partially agreeing) that their city lacks adequate tools and capacity to meet the current housing needs of the most vulnerable.

Cities supported the ‘Liege Declaration’ on housing issued under the Belgian presidency of the EU Council, advocating for “Affordable, decent and sustainable housing for all”. Last November, leaders of large cities across Europe signed a major new declaration in Barcelona to demonstrate the importance of cities in building a just, green and prosperous future for the European project. The declaration was handed to the Spanish Presidency of the EU in advance of the informal meeting of ministers responsible for housing and urban development.

Indeed, cities are tackling the housing crisis. Dublin is creating new social housing apartments by adapting and refurbishing vacant office and commercial buildings. Via the Villaggio Gandusio project, Bologna aims to foster social innovation and fight against energy poverty by renovating building facades, installing heat metres, and better general maintenance.

Lodz aims to revitalise many municipal apartments currently vacant and in disrepair to provide affordable housing options for residents needing accommodation. Barcelona worked on a new social housing complex for the most vulnerable elderly groups. These buildings count on a small team of caretakers and social workers who offer essential assistance.

As part of the ‘Milan Employment Pact’, the Italian city addresses high rents and the growing difficulties for workers of essential services by helping them find accommodation in the city. Lyon Metropole acquired 87 properties to turn them into social housing. By renovating them and transforming them into social rental products for families and students, the cityputs existing housing back into the circuit.

The lack of access to decent and affordable housing present in many cities across Europe exacerbated the risk of experiencing homelessness. In Dublin, for instance, the number of homeless young people surged by 50% in the past year, while Madrid witnessed a 10% increase since 2021.

Across Europe, cities have noticed that young people are particularly affected by the housing crisis and increasingly experiencing homelessness. In its major new report – ‘Ending youth homelessness in cities’ – Eurocities outlines the vision and practices of cities to combat youth homelessness, along with the ambitious actions that need to be taken at EU, national and local levels of government to effect change.

Cities also notice a frequent correlation between homelessness and mental health. While health doesn’t always lie within the competencies of local governments, several cities have taken measures to address this issue. In Zaragoza, support for people grappling with mental health issues starts by having a place to call home. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the city supports all people in need, including those who are undocumented and incorporates a gender-specific approach. Cooperation with, for example, Caidos del Zielo ensures improvement of quality of life by providing artistic activities such as theatre. The involvement of people with direct lived experience of homelessness also led to the creation of Gambaru, an association facilitating labour market insertion in a safe and supportive environment.

That is why Eurocities recent policy position includes a call for the European Commission to propose to the EU Council the adoption of a recommendation for an enabling framework recognising cities’ role in addressing homelessness. Cities also urge the European Commission to financially support EPOCH members in developing and implementing a comprehensive work programme, emphasising local implementation of housing-led and housing-first principles. Finally, cities call for a better integration of homelessness prevention across various policy domains, emphasising a holistic approach to addressing homelessness.

The labour market is undergoing a gradual transformation into a new green and digital era, where more jobs are likely to be based in urban environments.

Through the initiative Stocket Återbruk, the city of Stockholm targets vulnerable groups, such as young people or long-term unemployed individuals, and individuals with a history of drug use, and involves them in refurbishing office furniture. This initiative notably contributes to both providing beneficiaries with vocational skills through furniture restoration techniques, but also to the circular economy by promoting the recycling and re-use among businesses of furniture and equipment which is no longer in use.

In Madrid, the city’s Employment Agency actively works with NGOs and companies to ensure the development of skills in strategic sectors. One of the city’s initiatives has been developed with the Spanish Commission for Refugees and seeks to train and professionalise 135 third-country migrants and applicants for international protection with a particular focus on women.

Similarly, Lyon has recently launched a programme which particularly targets 3,000 recipients of minimum income support to find sustainable and accessible employment in the green industry. This programme relies on an integrated pathways model, by seeking out job seekers with no experience, training or knowledge of the targeted profession, then providing them with the skills needed by employers, and then facilitating hiring and securing sustainable employment for at least 6 months.

Given the pivotal role of digital skills in employment and social inclusion, cities are calling upon national governments and the EU to ensure that digital skills education begins early, fostering digital inclusion for all.

To achieve this, schools must be equipped with the necessary technology, and teachers should have improved access to training. Likewise, efforts should be made to bridge the digital divide by ensuring connectivity in the poorest local neighbourhoods, including the provision of free Wi-Fi. Additionally, priority should be given to the creation of new jobs, accompanied by enhancements in working conditions across Europe.

In addition to the aforementioned challenges, the gender employment gap remains a persistent global issue that must be overcome for a fair and just transition.

In addition to these pressing issues, numerous cities continue to grapple with long-term challenges, such as ageing populations or the shortage of accessible and affordable early childhood education and care. Manchester, for instance, has developed a comprehensive Health Inequality Plan aimed at addressing health disparities over the next five to eight years, following a study that identified gaps in life expectancy and escalating poverty.

In conclusion, given the multitude of social and economic challenges persisting at the local level, cities need to be involved in preventing and mitigating their adverse effects.

As articulated in the Eurocities manifesto ‘A better Europe starts in cities,’ local governments are urging the EU to elevate the ambition of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Cities assert that the Pillar must serve as a potent instrument for the just transition across all of the EU’s strategic priorities, while safeguarding people’s social rights amidst the green and digital transformations.

Local governments are determined to cultivate more inclusive urban environments founded on principles of fairness, equality and inclusivity. In pursuit of this objective, they stand as key allies of the European Commission in advancing the European Pillar of Social Rights.

In 2023, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Kadikoy, Munich, Nuremberg, Oslo, Paris, Riga, Stockholm and Zurich joined the inclusivecities4all campaign, by pledging to the European Pillar of Social Rights.

To date, 56 European municipalities have pledged to uphold the principles of this Pillar via Eurocities’ Inclusive Cities For All political initiative. This demonstrates their joint efforts with diverse partners and all levels of government to improve the lives of their populations.

Cities stand as indispensable allies of the EU in ensuring that no one is left behind.