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1. Programmes for vulnerable young people

2. Funding

3. Quality assurance

Inclusive programmes for young people in Luxembourg are implemented through a combination of youth-specific measures and broader public programmes aimed at reducing risks of social exclusion and supporting young people during key transitions to adulthood. While most programmes are not exclusively designed for young people, many explicitly identify children and young people as priority target groups or are particularly relevant for those in vulnerable situations.

Programmes for vulnerable young people

Inclusive programmes supporting education, guidance and employment pathways

Preventing early school leaving and supporting transitions from education to employment are central objectives of inclusive programmes for young people. Several programmes and services address different profiles of young people and stages of disengagement.

Young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) can access employment-related programmes through the National Employment Agency (ADEM), notably within the framework of the Youth Guarantee.  This programme provides registered young people with an offer of employment, continued education, training or activation within a defined timeframe.

Complementing employment-based programmes, youth-specific inclusive programmes focus on early intervention and re-engagement. The National Youth Service (SNJ) implements transition-related programmes targeting young people aged 16 to 30 who have disengaged from education or require flexible, non-formal pathways. These programmes include outreach to school dropouts, individual guidance, voluntary service, workshops, internships and orientation activities.

In addition, the Centres d’insertion socio-professionnelle (CISP) provide alternative schooling pathways for young people in situations of school disengagement or at risk of dropping out. Under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth, CISP combine individualised educational support with socio-emotional skills development and cooperation with secondary schools and support services, with the aim of facilitating continuation in education, vocational training or orientation towards the labour market (MENJE, CISP concept).

Orientation and prevention mechanisms also play an important role. The Maison de l’orientation provides guidance and referral services for young people experiencing difficulties in education or training pathways and contributes to the early identification of risks of disengagement.

Inclusive housing-related programmes for young people

Access to affordable and stable housing is recognised as a key determinant of social inclusion for young people. Housing programmes are coordinated by the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning and include measures aimed at facilitating access to housing for people with limited financial resources (https://logement.public.lu).

From an inclusion perspective, specific programmes address housing-related risks affecting young people, particularly homelessness and housing insecurity during the transition to independent living. These programmes are implemented in cooperation with municipalities and social service providers and are embedded in broader poverty prevention and social inclusion frameworks.

The following targeted programmes contribute to preventing and addressing youth homelessness and acute housing crises:

• The Office national de l’enfance (ONE) provides early intervention, family support and, where necessary, temporary placement in specialised housing services (Service Logement en Milieu Ouvert) or foster care to prevent homelessness among children and young people in distress
• The Péitrusshaus Shelter offers short-term emergency accommodation (5–10 days) for young people under 21 experiencing crisis situations, providing immediate care, guidance and stabilisation support
• Pupils aged 18–30 in psychosocial distress may receive financial support through the SePAS (Service psycho-social et d’accompagnement scolaires) to help cover housing and rent costs and maintain access to education
• Emergency accommodation vouchers (bon d’hébergement d’urgence) provide young adults in crisis with temporary accommodation in youth hostels nationwide. These vouchers are distributed by SePAS, social offices, ONE and accredited youth housing services.

In addition, specific inclusive programmes address the housing needs of young people in transition to independent living. In this context, the “Jugendwunnen” programme aims to provide affordable and supported housing solutions for young adults who wish to leave home but face difficulties accessing the regular housing market.

Jugendwunnen offers individual housing units or shared accommodation at moderated rents, combined with light educational and social support adapted to the needs of young residents. The objective is to facilitate young people’s transition to autonomous living while preventing housing-related social exclusion.

Jugendwunnen targets young adults, generally aged 18 to 31, provided they are under 26 at the time the housing is allocated.  They need to meet eligibility criteria related to income and autonomy and are expected to actively develop and pursue a personal, professional or educational life project in cooperation with qualified socio-educational staff. This socio-educational support provided to young tenants is the distinguishing feature of Jugendwunnen compared to other youth housing schemes.

Housing providers participating in the programme are required to meet quality standards and to ensure coordination between housing management and educational support, in line with existing youth and housing legislation (MENJE/ MLOGAT, Jugendwunnen call for projects, 2025). 

Inclusive social, family and financial support programmes

Inclusive social, family and financial support programmes address the needs of young people in vulnerable situations through a combination of youth-related and general social protection measures.

At national level, the National Office for Children (Office national de l’enfance – ONE) coordinates inclusive support measures for children and young people in distress, addressing social, educational and psychological needs.

At local level, Social Welfare Offices (Offices sociaux) provide welfare aid and social support to individuals and households facing financial or social difficulties. Although not youth-specific, these services play an important role in preventing social exclusion among young people.

Education-related financial support for pupils from low-income households is provided through dedicated schemes, including support granted by the Psycho-social and Scholastic Assistance Centre (CePAS), which aims to reduce financial barriers to schooling.

Broader income support programmes, such as the income of social inclusion (REVIS), also contribute to preventing poverty and social exclusion among young people and their families.

Within the framework of the National Action Plan for the prevention and fight against poverty, the organisation of certain financial support programmes is being reviewed in order to strengthen coherence and accessibility across policy areas.

Inclusive health-related programmes

Inclusive health-related programmes contribute to social inclusion by supporting access to health care and well-being for young people, particularly those in vulnerable situations.

Luxembourg’s health system provides broad coverage through compulsory public health insurance, which also applies to children and young people. In addition, inclusive health programmes place particular emphasis on mental health, supporting prevention, early intervention and access to appropriate care for young people experiencing psychological distress.

Funding

Inclusive programmes for young people in Luxembourg are primarily financed through public funding. The main source of funding is the national budget, allocated to the ministries responsible for youth, education, employment, housing, health and social inclusion, depending on the nature of the programme.

At local level, municipalities may co-finance certain programmes, particularly in the fields of housing, social support and youth-related services. In addition, European Union funding complements national resources for specific programmes and target groups, notably through instruments such as the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Erasmus+ and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), depending on programme objectives and beneficiaries.

Quality assurance

The quality of inclusive programmes for young people is ensured through a combination of legal frameworks, administrative procedures and institutional coordination mechanisms. Programmes are implemented in accordance with existing legislation and are subject to oversight by the competent public authorities.

Where programmes are implemented by non-public actors, such as non-governmental organisations or service providers, quality assurance is ensured through conventions and contractual arrangements with the responsible ministries. These arrangements define objectives, target groups, reporting obligations and funding conditions and are subject to administrative and financial monitoring.

Coordination between ministries and agencies further contributes to coherence and quality in the implementation of inclusive programmes, particularly for young people with complex or multiple support needs. Data collection and reporting mechanisms, such as those related to school dropout or employment pathways, support evidence-informed adjustments of programmes over time.