Τhe role of trade unions in affordable housing, gender equality, and tackling precarious work

Towards a more inclusive EU: The role of tradeunions in affordable housing, gender equality, and tackling precarious work

A hybrid (online & in Brussels) lunch time CESI@noon

Thursday, April 24th 2024, 12:00-14:30

light lunch included

in English language

Registration here

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In times of increasing housing prices, and thus housing scarcity, thosefacing homelessness or housing difficulties are often either unemployed or in precarious, low-wage employment. Within this group, women and single mothers make up aconsiderable share, due to either unemployment, precarious employment or low wages.

Strong European Union policies should promote more inclusive and gender-focused regulations and incentives, including for instance:

·     equal pay for equal work and higher wages in low-paid, female-dominated sectors such as care;

·     more affordable and available childcare, which enables in particular also single mothers to continue to pursue their career and remain financially independent;

·     stronger tenant protections and other assistance programmes, to directly help precarious groups like single mothers with low revenues with their housing.

Housing accessibility in the EU is a growing challenge, marked by rising prices and a shortage of affordable housing. Between 2010 and 2022, rents increased by 19% and housing prices by 47%, outpacing income growth. In 2022, 10% of EU residents faced excessive housing costs, with a higher impact onthose at risk of poverty[1]. Additionally, around 900,000 people are homeless. Ensuring affordable and decent housing isessential for the economic development and social cohesion in the EU – and notleast for improving women’s rights.

On April 24 CESI invites you to a youth-led debate on how the EU can guarantee more accessible and affordable housing for everyone, especially women and single mothers. In the context of its EU-cofunded eQualPROproject, CESI proposes an in-depth debate on what policy solutions could be made available at EU level to make housing more affordable, particularly for affected (young) women.

The panel will address questions including:

1.    How will young people,women, single mothers and other vulnerable groups be helped by addressing the housing crisis at EU level?

2.    What policy recommendations and legislative proposals could the EU's first Commissioner for Energy and Housing introduce to address gaps in housing opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly women and single mothers?

3.    How can the need for more affordable housing be balanced with the objectives of the EU Green Deal, addressing energy poverty, and promoting social investments?

4.    What are the objectives of the newly formed European Parliament Intergroup on ‘Housing,’?

Provisional agenda

#SocialEurope #EU2030

12:00   Welcome and light lunch

12:30   Welcome address & introductions

Dan Jørgensen, Commissioner for Energy and Housing(tbc)

Matthäus Fandrejewski, dbb Jugend and CESI YouthRepresentative

12:40   Regina Doherty,Vice-Chair of the ‘Housing’ Intergroup, European Parliament (tbc)

12:50   Alice Pitinni, Research Director at Housing Europe (tbc)

12:55   NN, EuropeanInstitute for Gender Equality (EIGE)

13:05   SarahCoupechoux, Abbe Pierre Foundation (tbc)

13:10   Marie Hyland, Eurofound

13:20   Ruth Paserman, EuropeanCommission (tbc)

13:30   MaritMaij, member of the European Parliament, Greens/PvdA (tbc)

13:35  Discussionswith participants

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[1] https://belgian-presidency.consilium.europa.eu/en/news/liege-declaration-towards-affordable-decent-and-sustainable-housing-for-all/consulted February 25th 2025

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