Ahead of Zero Discrimination Day, IN-HABIT draws attention to inclusive housing as a critical condition for equality and non-discrimination across Europe. Persons with disabilities face a 70% higher risk of poverty than the general population, significantly limiting their access to affordable, accessible and community-based housing.
Across many Member States, long waiting lists, limited availability of accessible homes, high costs, and bureaucratic allocation systems continue to create barriers to independent living. As a result, housing systems often fail to support participation, autonomy and inclusion, reinforcing social exclusion rather than preventing it.
While housing occupies a central place in the European agenda, the needs of people with disabilities continue to be overlooked in the housing solutions currently being designed and financed.
Launched in December 2025, IN-HABIT is a three-year project bringing together eight partners from Hungary, Italy, France, Ireland, Greece, Belgium and Poland. The project responds to persistent gaps between housing policy frameworks and the lived realities of people with disabilities.
Estelle Houtart, IN-HABIT Project Coordinator and Policy Officer at EASPD, said:
“Access to housing remains a major challenge for persons with disabilities. Among the main barriers, the need for better coordination between the housing sector, the disability sector and local authorities is often highlighted. IN-HABIT aims to change this reality by strengthening the knowledge and skills of professionals across those sectors.”
IN-HABIT focuses on the practical barriers that prevent inclusive housing from becoming a reality across Europe. The project works to identify skills gaps and best practices in housing and support services, strengthen the capacity of housing professionals, local authorities and service providers, and improve access to housing-related services through digital tools.
By fostering dialogue among key actors across the housing sector, IN-HABIT supports more coordinated, person-centred and sustainable housing solutions for people with disabilities, contributing to the translation of EU commitments on non-discrimination and independent living into practice.
About IN-HABIT
For more information, contact Estelle Houtart and Omor Ahmed, Project Coordinators, EASPD, at estelle.houtart@easpd.eu and omor.ahmed@easpd.eu
