Homelessness in Europe is rising, impacting diverse social groups, affecting at least 895.000 individuals across the continent. Despite being a key EU priority, fragmented and decentralized systems limit effective responses. Addressing homelessness requires integrated, preventive, and evidence-based approaches.

To address these challenges, COMHOM is a transformative three-year project funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), focused on leveraging data-driven solutions, digital tools, and innovative practices to combat homelessness through an integrated approach that encompasses housing, support services, prevention, and the sharing of evidence-based practices among stakeholders.

Launched in January 2025, COMHOM is an innovative initiative designed to tackle the growing challenge of homelessness across Europe through participatory and systemic approaches. The project employs cutting-edge methodologies such as Participatory Action Research (PAR) and Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) to co-create solutions with a diverse range of stakeholders, including homeless individuals, service providers, and policymakers.

COMHOM is structured around three interconnected areas:

  1. identifying challenges (Problem Space);
  2. designing tools and solutions (Solution Space);
  3. ensuring sustainable implementation (Deployment Space).

This integrated approach aims to transform homelessness response systems, making them more effective, adaptive, and inclusive.

The project prioritises the development of data-driven digital tools, the establishment of a robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework, and the implementation of capacity-building strategies to strengthen service delivery and policy integration.

Operating across five European countries — Finland, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain — COMHOM is firmly aligned with the objectives of the European Pillar of Social Rights and the Lisbon Declaration on combating homelessness. By fostering social innovation and promoting the direct engagement of affected individuals and frontline practitioners, the project seeks to establish sustainable, evidence-based practices that can significantly enhance the response to homelessness across Europe.

Our contribution

 

Due to our expertise in participatory methodologies and knowledge involving multiple stakeholders around different health and wellbeing issues (e.g. as consortium member in both Blockchain.PT and CardioFollowAI), we will be responsible for WP2 (Social innovation and co-creation) and will be explicitly involved in the establishment and monitoring of the COMHOM Living Lab, stakeholder engagement and co-creation activities.
Together with us, all consortium partners will be involved in the co-creation activities in the problem, solution and deployment spaces, contributing their knowledge, experience and perspective alongside other stakeholders invested in the Living Lab.

 

Project Partners

 

The COMHOM consortium brings together a diverse group of partners with extensive experience in social services, research, and digital transformation.
The project is led by Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials Barcelona (SJD), and our project partners include:

 

We will also be supported by the project’s associated partners:

 

Looking ahead

 

COMHOM represents a bold step toward addressing homelessness at its roots. By integrating data-driven solutions with participatory co-creation processes, the project aims to reshape the landscape of homelessness services in Europe.

The outcomes of COMHOM will not only benefit homeless people but also enhance the capacity of service providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to implement effective, evidence-based solutions. As the project progresses, its impact will extend beyond immediate beneficiaries, contributing to a stronger, more inclusive European social framework.