European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless: Youth rights at risk in Europe

The increase in youth homelessness is the most striking trend in homeless demographics. Thanks to austerity measures, high unemployment rates and the increasing cost of housing, more and more young people are being pushed into homelessness in Europe. This is a matter which requires urgent attention.

The European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA) Youth, along with organisations in Europe and a collaborative group of organisations from Canada are publishing ‘Youth Rights! Right Now! Ending Youth Homelessness: A Human Rights Guide.’ This Guide, which grounds strategies to end youth homelessness in international human rights law, will be published to mark international Human Rights Day on 10 December 2016. The guide, based on research, consultations, input from youth and the expertise of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Ms. Leilani Farha, argues that all young people have a fundamental, legal right to be free of homelessness and to have access to adequate housing.

The guide brings human rights to the forefront of decision making with an aim to assist in the identification of systemic causes of homelessness and human rights solutions. It includes steps that policy-makers, front-line workers, researchers and others can embrace a human rights approach.

Youth Rights, Right Now will be published in English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Romanian, Serbian and Catalan, (with the English, German and Dutch versions published today) and will be available for free on the FEANTSA website.

Full article.