A Housing First conference took place in Pula, Croatia on April 15th, hosted by Udruga AjA. The event gathered practitioners, policymakers, and advocates from across Croatia and other places in Europe, united in their commitment to ending homelessness through the Housing First approach.
The conference provided an important opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen collaboration across sectors, and deepen the conversation around systemic responses to homelessness. Key themes included housing policies and the importance of shifting the narrative from individual failings to structural challenges.
Engagement Through Dialogue and Practice
The programme featured a mix of dynamic sessions, including World Café-style discussions designed to foster meaningful, participant-led dialogue. These small group conversations explored staff wellbeing, inter-sectoral cooperation, and the central role of lived experience in shaping effective responses to homelessness.
In addition to these discussions, participants were offered insights from a wide range of presentations delivered by NGOs, local service providers, and municipal actors. Each highlighted practical strategies and policy innovations. One of the most powerful moments of the event was a presentation by someone with lived experience of homelessness, who shared their story and helped highlight why services need to be shaped together with the people who use them.
The day after the event also marked the official launch of Udruga AjA’s new website, aimed at amplifying their advocacy and providing a resource for practitioners, policymakers, and the general public interested in Housing First in Croatia.
Future Steps
As emphasised during the conference, a shift is needed to focus on failing systems rather than individuals. Many speakers echoed this call, advocating for housing as a fundamental human right.
Collaborating organisations, including World Habitat, MOST (Split), Institut Pula, and Caritas Zadarske Nadbiskupije, contributed to shaping shared recommendations for the continued development of Housing First in Croatia and beyond.
The Pula conference highlighted both the challenges and the possibilities ahead. It underscored the value of international cooperation, local innovation, and persistent advocacy. As the Housing First movement continues to gain movement in Europe, conferences like this play a crucial role in maintaining momentum and ensuring that policy and practice evolve in line with the needs of those experiencing homelessness.