COMHOM

Pioneering Data-Driven Solutions To Combat Homelessness Across Europe

Homelessness is one of the most pressing social challenges in Europe today, affecting at least 895,000 individuals across a growingly diverse demographic. Families, women, young people, migrants, and individuals in precarious employment now find themselves increasingly vulnerable. Despite progress in adopting rights-based and housing-led approaches, gaps in systematic monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks hinder the effectiveness of homelessness services. Addressing these challenges, the COMHOM project emerges as a transformative initiative that seeks to improve the quality, cost-efficiency, and personalisation of services for the homeless population.

Homelessness: A European Policy Priority

The European Union has underscored the importance of combating homelessness, enshrining this commitment in the European Pillar of Social Rights and the European Platform on Combating Homelessness. The increasing prevalence of homelessness, exacerbated by economic pressures and the housing crisis, demands innovative and collaborative responses. Effective solutions must bridge gaps in housing and welfare systems, ensuring a comprehensive approach that integrates housing-first strategies with robust data-driven methodologies.

COMHOM aligns with these priorities, aiming to harmonise methodologies across EU Member States while addressing structural inefficiencies through the use of technology and innovative practices.

Introducing the COMHOM Project

Launched in January 2025, COMHOM is a three-year initiative funded by the European Social Fund (ESF). The project focuses on transforming the way homelessness is tackled by leveraging data, digital tools, and a standardised M&E framework. Its overarching goals include:

  • Developing a comprehensive M&E framework that harmonises methodologies and facilitates evidence-based policymaking.
  • Creating digital tools, including a data lake, AI models, and a centralised platform, to improve decision-making and resource allocation.
  • Enhancing capacity through training and mentoring programs for service providers.
  • Supporting innovative practices through social experimentation, involving sub-grants to European homelessness response organisations.
  • Generating policy recommendations to guide EU-wide efforts in combating homelessness.

By addressing the fragmentation of homelessness services and fostering collaboration, COMHOM aims to set new benchmarks for efficiency, innovation, and effectiveness.

A Consortium of Expertise

The COMHOM consortium brings together a diverse group of partners with extensive experience in social services, research, and digital transformation. Led by Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials Barcelona (SJD) and affiliated entity Fundació Sant Joan de Déu in Spain, the consortium includes Value for Health CoLAB (Portugal), Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), Social IT (Italy), Chino.io (Italy), Simon Communities of Ireland (Ireland), PRAKSIS (Greece), Sant Joan de Déu València (Spain), and the European Social Network (Belgium). Associated partners, including FEANTSA, Y-Foundation, and SMES Europa, also play a critical role in ensuring the project’s impact and outreach.

Kick-off Meeting in Barcelona

The official launch of COMHOM took place in Barcelona on 21-22 January 2025, hosted by Sant Joan de Déu. During the two-day kick-off meeting, partners aligned on the project’s objectives, discussed key deliverables, and set a roadmap for the coming months and years.

Central to the discussions was the development of the M&E framework, which aims to standardise data collection and evaluation methodologies across Member States. Partners also deliberated on plans for the sub-granting phase, designed to support social experimentation across diverse welfare models. Additionally, strategies for developing digital tools and AI models that can seamlessly integrate into existing systems were addressed. A significant focus was placed on capacity-building initiatives to enhance the digital competencies of service providers, ensuring that organisations are equipped to adopt and implement the project’s innovative solutions.

The meeting reinforced the consortium’s shared commitment to transforming homelessness services through innovation and collaboration.

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.