Tackling the EU’s affordable housing crisis is vital for students and universities

Recently, the European Commission presented the first European Affordable Housing Plan to promote ‘access to affordable, sustainable and good-quality housing’. Previously, the European University Association provided input to a public consultation on this initiative, highlighting that housing insecurity impacts students and staff and hampers the achievement of key policy goals for the sector.

Across the EU, students are refraining from taking up study opportunities in certain locations due to accommodation shortages and high costs. University staff are similarly affected.

High housing costs for internationally mobile students and researchers diminish the impact of programmes such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. In particular, lack of housing is an obstacle for Erasmus+ student mobility, and leads to social exclusion. Indeed,  increasing the availability of affordable housing is essential for strengthening Europe’s attractiveness for international talent, but also for the success of the Union of Skills, Europe’s competitiveness and resilience.

As European and national policy makers take the next steps in implementing the European Affordable Housing Plan, EUA urges them to continue efforts to mobilise InvestEU, cohesion funds, Erasmus+ pilots and innovative housing models. In sum, they should explore innovative policies and practices to ensure housing is accessible and affordable for all citizens, including members of university communities, and in particular students.