The FEANTSA Forum 2026, organised in collaboration with the Polish National Federation for Solving the Problem of Homelessness (Ogólnopolska Federacja na rzecz Rozwiązywania Problemu Bezdomności) and the City of Warsaw, took place in Warsaw on 18–19 May 2026.
The Housing First Europe Hub was present throughout the Forum, actively contributing to exchanges on advancing Housing First approaches and strengthening local and European responses to homelessness.
Over the course of the event, the Hub hosted two dedicated sessions. The first, “Meeting the Housing First Europe Hub”, provided participants with an overview of the Hub’s work, including training activities, capacity building, research, and Communities of Practice. The session also highlighted inspiring local Housing First initiatives from Poland, with contributions from:
- Julia Wygnańska (Housing First Poland Foundation) and
- Anna Gazda (Housing First Polish Association).
Both speakers shared valuable insights from their work on the ground.
The second session, “Cities at the Forefront of Housing First”, brought together representatives from cities across Europe, including Finland, the Netherlands, Czechia, Poland, and England, to exchange experiences on housing access, implementation challenges, and cooperation with key stakeholders.
Speakers included:
- Paula Pönkänen (City of Helsinki)
- René Meijborg & Derek Jochemsen (City of Rotterdam)
- Marek Mikulec (Masaryk University & Ministry of Regional Development, Czech Republic)
- Barbara Tomasik-Mejsner (Municipal Family Support Centre, Gdańsk)
- Nicholas Pleace (University of York)
Participants engaged in rich discussions, sharing best practices, identifying common barriers, and exploring practical solutions to strengthen Housing First implementation at local level.
A key takeaway echoed throughout the Forum was the reminder that: “The most important right for a person experiencing homelessness is the right to escape homelessness.”
We extend our sincere thanks to all speakers, participants, and partners for their contributions to these meaningful exchanges.
All presentations from the sessions are now available and can be accessed here:
- Local Housing First initiatives from Poland:
- Cities at the Forefront of Housing First