B3-1715, 1770 and 1777/93

Resolution on emergency aid to the homeless

The European Parliament,

A.concerned at the number of homeless people who have died of cold in certain Member States of the European Union and considering that this represents a real human tragedy,

B.noting that the number of homeless people - estimated at approximately 3 million - and the precariousness of their situation continue to increase within the Union,

C.aware that such problems of social exclusion, although more visible and noticeable in winter, must nonetheless be tackled on a permanent basis,

D.whereas the increase in unemployment and the increasingly precarious nature of employment is helping to exacerbate marginalization,

E.fully supporting the Commission proposal to double the Community funding of the 'Poverty IV' programme (1994-1999) as compared with what was allocated to 'Poverty III',

F.aware that only a determined, long-term policy on social housing, training, employment and the humanization of social and economic structures will provide a proper, lasting solution to such a serious situation,

G.whereas the extreme distress of the homeless, which is intensified by the onset of winter, calls for special emergency support,

H.whereas this situation is all the more unacceptable since, in virtually every case, the homeless live in a society where a large number of premises are vacant,

I.acknowledging the quality of the work and the efforts made by charitable organizations and others to help the homeless and taking account of the appeal by humanitarian organizations for larger quantities of food for distribution to the poor,

1.Considers that extreme poverty and social marginalization represent an intolerable affront to human dignity;

2.Calls for an increase in Community funds to enable food to be distributed free to the poor;

3.Calls on the Commission to release without delay special emergency aid to supplement the aid already being provided and the action already being taken in the Member States;

4.Calls for this special aid to be paid to organizations and/or associations involved in taking in, sheltering and informing the homeless, subject to their meeting the required professional criteria and without prejudice to the responsibilities incumbent on the governments of the Union Member States;

5.Calls for the swift implementation by the Commission, in cooperation with the authorities of the Member States, of a comprehensive plan for the benefit of the homeless, aimed at finding a lasting solution to the problem of the excluded, whose numbers are constantly increasing within the Union;

6.Calls for the implementation of national and Community policies which give everyone greater access to education, health, food, culture and decent accommodation;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission and the governments of the Member States.