Center for Independent Living Serbia

15/10/2026

Disabled people need homes they can afford and access, with the freedom to choose where and with whom they live. The EU Affordable Housing Act must put accessibility and independent living at its heart.

ENIL is proposing amendments to ensure that the Act addresses the housing barriers faced by persons with disabilities and reflects their rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Why does this matter?

Around 90 million people in the EU live with a disability. Yet estimates suggest that 70–80% of existing housing is unsuitable for people with mobility impairments. Building more homes will not solve this problem unless those homes are accessible.

Disabled people also face greater financial pressures. In 2024, 28.8% of persons with disabilities were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared with 17.9% of persons without disabilities. Housing costs placed an excessive burden on 10.4% of persons with disabilities, compared with 7.8% of persons without disabilities.

The costs of housing adaptations, personal assistance, accessible transport and energy can make finding and keeping a suitable home even harder.

What is ENIL calling for?

🏠 Accessibility from the start

New homes and renovations should follow Universal Design principles, making them usable by as many people as possible. Existing homes should progressively become more accessible, with individual adaptations available where needed.

🏘️ Accessible and inclusive social housing

More social housing does not automatically mean more accessible housing. Social and non-profit housing must meet disabled people’s needs, prevent segregation and support independent living within the community.

🚪 Accessibility beyond the front door

Shared spaces, the surrounding neighbourhood, transport and essential services must also be accessible. A suitable home needs an environment that allows people to participate in everyday life.

📍 Housing assessments that reflect disabled people’s needs

An area can have enough homes overall and still have a serious shortage of accessible homes. Authorities should recognise these shortages, monitor housing stress annually and act promptly to address both immediate and longer-term needs.

🤝 Accessible emergency and temporary accommodation

Disabled people experiencing or at risk of homelessness must have access to accommodation that meets their needs.

⚖️ Action on discrimination and housing exclusion

Housing measures must take account of the discrimination and additional barriers disabled people face when looking for a home.

📋 Reviews that check whether people’s lives improve

Authorities should assess whether housing measures actually improve access to adequate, affordable and accessible homes for persons with disabilities.

Accessible housing is essential for independent living.
Without suitable housing and community support, people may be unable to leave institutions or may face institutionalisation. Housing policy must support disabled people’s right to make choices about their lives and be included in their communities.

These needs exist in cities, small towns and rural areas, including places that are not considered to have a general housing shortage.

🔗 Read the full proposed amendments:https://enil.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/ENIL-Proposed-Amendments-to-the-EU-Affordable-Housing-Act-1.docx.pdf

Share this post to help put accessible housing and independent living on the agenda.

13/10/2026

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

The Power of Human Connection. Article by Kamil Goungor 👇

Movements are not built only through papers, research and events. They are built by people who care about each other.

Before we can fight as a movement, we need to become and feel that we are part of one. We need to know each other, trust each other, share experiences and care about what happens to one another. And when that happens, I think we become much more powerful.

I was personally reminded of all this during this year's Freedom Drive. Just minutes away from an event I had spent so much time working on and preparing for, and for which I had been very excited about, I got sick. And I missed it…

Anyone who knows me can probably imagine how frustrating that was. Afterwards, a colleague told me, "Sorry you missed it, we know how much you like socialising". My immediate thought was: it's not socialising, it's connecting.

And strangely, even though I missed Freedom Drive physically, in many ways I still felt part of it. My phone and laptop kept bringing Freedom Drive to me. I received messages, photos, updates and even gossip. People who were there took the time to ask how I was doing. Others told me they missed me, checked whether I needed anything and offered support. Some visited me. I even got a gift!

When relationships are real, being absent from the room doesn't mean being absent from the movement.
Because the movement is also what happens after the conference finishes.

It is the dinner afterwards, the book exchange, the conversations that have nothing to do with the agenda, the friendships that cross borders, the person who notices you are missing, the message asking if you are ok, and the person who stays with you when you are sick.

Maybe that is one of the differences between an organisation and a movement. An organisation can function because people work together. A movement goes beyond that and becomes powerful because people feel that they belong together.

I missed Freedom Drive this year, but in a way, I was still there. Thank you for that. This is the power of true connection. The power of our movement.

Full article: https://enil.eu/the-power-of-human-connection/ 😊

01/10/2026