Deadline: 01-Dec-2026
The European Commission has launched the “Structurally Addressing Homelessness Through Coordinated Social Infrastructure and Services in Neighbourhoods” funding opportunity under Horizon Europe to support innovative solutions for homelessness at the neighbourhood level. The initiative aims to strengthen social infrastructure, improve access to services, and create coordinated systems that support long-term community integration and social inclusion.
Program Overview
The Horizon Europe funding opportunity focuses on addressing homelessness through integrated and neighbourhood-based solutions rather than relying solely on housing measures. The programme recognizes that homelessness often results from interconnected social, economic, and structural challenges that require coordinated interventions across multiple sectors.
The initiative aims to support the development of neighbourhood systems that combine housing-related support with healthcare, employment services, education, community integration initiatives, and broader social infrastructure. Through this approach, the programme seeks to create sustainable solutions that improve wellbeing and strengthen social cohesion.
Focus Areas and Program Objectives
The programme addresses a wide range of priorities related to homelessness and social inclusion.
Key objectives include:
• Addressing homelessness through systemic interventions
• Supporting housing-led and neighbourhood-based approaches
• Strengthening social infrastructure and service coordination
• Improving healthcare accessibility
• Supporting education and employment opportunities
• Encouraging community integration
• Promoting social inclusion and participation
• Strengthening social cohesion and wellbeing
• Improving accessibility of neighbourhood services
• Supporting vulnerable and marginalised populations
• Encouraging participatory and transdisciplinary approaches
• Reducing chronic homelessness through coordinated support systems
Key Concepts Explained
Homelessness refers to situations where individuals lack stable, safe, and adequate housing and may experience temporary, long-term, or chronic housing insecurity.
Housing-led approaches prioritize providing access to stable housing while also supporting individuals through complementary services.
Social infrastructure refers to services, facilities, institutions, and systems that support community wellbeing, inclusion, and quality of life.
Neighbourhood-level coordination refers to connecting services and support systems within local communities to improve accessibility and effectiveness.
Chronic homelessness refers to long-term or repeated experiences of homelessness often linked to complex social, economic, or health-related challenges.
Participatory approaches involve active engagement of communities and affected individuals in planning and implementation processes.
Transdisciplinary approaches integrate expertise from multiple disciplines and sectors to address complex societal challenges.
How the Programme Works
The programme requires applicants to create coordinated systems that improve access to services and support community integration.
The process includes:
- Analysing neighbourhood conditions and built environments
- Assessing barriers to service access
- Coordinating healthcare, education, employment, and social support services
- Evaluating engagement of homeless and vulnerable populations
- Identifying structural challenges within service systems
- Developing scalable and adaptable intervention models
- Measuring social and economic outcomes
- Validating solutions in multiple neighbourhood settings
Funding Information
The programme provides funding support under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions.
Funding details include:
• Programme type: HORIZON Innovation Actions
• Call reference: HORIZON-NEB-2026-01-BUSINESS-01
• Total available budget: €10,500,000
• Expected EU contribution per project: Approximately €3,500,000
Who is Eligible?
Participation is open according to Horizon Europe rules and eligibility conditions.
Eligible participants include:
• Legal entities regardless of place of establishment
• International organisations
• Research institutions
• Affiliated entities
• Associated partners
• Organisations from non-associated third countries
• Eligible entities without legal personality under specific conditions
Applicants must comply with Horizon Europe participation requirements.
What Applicants Need to Do
Applicants are expected to create coordinated and evidence-based approaches to address homelessness.
Required activities include:
• Develop a system-based neighbourhood approach
• Coordinate healthcare, education, employment, and social services
• Assess neighbourhood infrastructure and service accessibility
• Identify structural barriers affecting homelessness
• Measure social and economic impacts
• Address inequalities related to geography, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical or psychological functional variations
• Provide recommendations for different neighbourhood contexts
• Validate the developed approach in at least five neighbourhoods across different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries
Mandatory Project Requirements
Projects must include several specific requirements.
Mandatory elements include:
• Validation across at least five neighbourhoods
• Participation from multiple European countries
• Participatory methodology
• Transdisciplinary approaches
• Strong involvement of social sciences and humanities expertise
• Measurable socioeconomic assessments
• Evidence-based recommendations for scaling and adaptation
Why This Opportunity Matters
Homelessness remains a significant social challenge across Europe, affecting more than 1.2 million people. Addressing homelessness requires solutions that extend beyond housing provision and tackle the broader systems influencing exclusion and vulnerability.
Potential benefits include:
• Improved access to essential services
• Better healthcare and employment outcomes
• Increased social inclusion
• Stronger community integration
• Reduced long-term homelessness
• Improved community wellbeing and cohesion
• More sustainable neighbourhood support systems
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid weaknesses that may reduce proposal quality and impact.
Common mistakes include:
• Focusing only on housing without integrating support services
• Ignoring vulnerable population groups
• Providing weak socioeconomic assessment methods
• Failing to address service fragmentation challenges
• Neglecting participatory approaches
• Missing validation requirements across multiple neighbourhoods
• Overlooking social sciences and humanities contributions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the primary purpose of this funding opportunity?
The programme aims to strengthen neighbourhood-level responses to homelessness through coordinated services and social infrastructure.
How much funding is available?
The total programme budget is €10,500,000, with approximately €3,500,000 expected per project.
What type of projects are expected?
Projects should develop system-based approaches that coordinate healthcare, education, employment, and social support services.
How many neighbourhoods must be included for validation?
Projects must validate their approaches in at least five neighbourhoods across different EU Member States and/or Associated Countries.
Are participatory methods mandatory?
Yes. Participatory and transdisciplinary approaches are mandatory requirements.
Who should be involved in project implementation?
Projects should involve social sciences and humanities experts alongside relevant institutions and stakeholders.
Can organisations from outside Europe participate?
Yes. Eligible organisations from non-associated third countries and international organisations may participate if Horizon Europe conditions are met.
Conclusion
The “Structurally Addressing Homelessness Through Coordinated Social Infrastructure and Services in Neighbourhoods” initiative supports innovative approaches that address homelessness through integrated neighbourhood systems. By combining coordinated services, community participation, and evidence-based strategies, the programme aims to create more inclusive communities and improve long-term wellbeing outcomes across Europe.
For more information, visit European Commission.
