As the foundation for their future, having a home not only enables young people to live independently from their parents, but it also supports them to flourish in all areas of their life. Yet, young Europeans face powerful challenges. High property prices and rents, an insufficient supply of quality accommodation, the shortage of social housing and more limited financial means compared to those held by previous generations end up pushing many young people into unaffordable, overcrowded, precarious and inadequate housing conditions. In extreme circumstances, young people can be exposed to the risk of homelessness. 

To address this serious challenge, the first-ever European affordable housing plan was launched in December 2025, in order to present concrete actions to help tackle the structural causes of this crisis. One key action of the plan is dedicated to young people, one of the groups who are most vulnerable to the threats of the housing crisis.

The Youth Wiki report ‘Youth access to affordable and quality housing’ provides, through a comparative analysis, a mapping of the policy measures supporting young people’s access to affordable and quality housing in 34 European countries. Based on the data provided by the Youth Wiki network of National Correspondents, the report illustrates the main recurring forms of housing support that European countries have put in place. Through its conclusions, the report contributes to informing the way forward, identifying several suggestions for the advancement of youth housing policies in Europe.