A note from Kilkenny's Good Shepherd CEO via Brussels: Homelessness must be a European priority

I recently had the privilege of travelling to Brussels at the invitation of MEP Kathleen Funchion to attend discussions at the European Parliament.

It was a timely and important opportunity to share the lived realities of the homeless crisis in Ireland and to hear how others across Europe are responding.

The European Parliament is the only directly elected body within the EU — its job is to represent the people. And right now, one thing is clear: the voices of Europe’s 1.2 million homeless people need to be heard and prioritised.
Homelessness isn’t unique to Ireland, nor is it confined to cities or certain socioeconomic groups.
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But in countries that are effectively tackling homelessness, we see common denominators:
Housing is enshrined as a constitutional right.
Governments are compelled—both morally and legally—to act.
Public agencies, NGOs, and communities work together in real partnership.
Crucially, funding is ringfenced to support these actions.

Noel Sherry

These aren’t radical ideas—they’re practical, evidence-based approaches. And if the EU truly stands for the rights of its citizens, then it must mandate that every member state adopts them.

Ireland’s own Housing First model is widely accepted as the best policy tool to tackle chronic homelessness. We have an implementation plan—and that’s welcome. But the gaps remain.

Too many people still fall through the cracks because the clinical services needed to support Housing First are patchy or absent. Even where they exist, integration is poor.

This is the Irish story: policies are written, but too often, they stop short of being fully realised—hampered by underfunding or a lack of sustained political will. And in the meantime, our most vulnerable are left waiting.

In Brussels, we made two clear asks to the European Parliament’s policy unit:

Redirect funding: Suspend pilot funding for Housing First programmes in countries with no clear plan for full implementation. That money should go where it can make a difference—towards countries like Ireland, where there’s a genuine commitment to Housing First but where extra resources are urgently needed.

Measure what matters: Ensure that EU investment in homeless services includes a robust, outcome-focused evaluation of what actually works. Too often, success is measured in activity—not impact.

SENSE OF PURPOSE
Our visit to Brussels gave us hope. There is a growing awareness at European level that housing and health are intertwined human rights. But it’s not enough to talk about principles—we need delivery.

We left Brussels with a renewed sense of purpose. The EU has a vital role to play, not just in funding, but in setting the standard. Homelessness can be ended. But only if we have the courage and coordination to act.

Noel Sherry is the CEO of Kilkenny’s Good Shepherd Centre and Tar Isteach Housing