Can money alone solve the homelessness crisis? Not long ago, the former Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, David Beasley, argued that $6 billion could save 42 million people from starvation. Regardless of how that discussion ended, it raises an important question: can money alone solve the world's greatest challenges, such as poverty, hunger, disease, or homelessness? Or is the real driver of change the willingness of people themselves? This question is particularly relevant when discussing homelessness, including the controversial notion of “voluntary homelessness”.
According to national data, between 4,000 and 5,000 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the Silesian Voivodeship in Warsaw, Poland. In response, a funding call held between March and June 2026 was dedicated entirely to supporting people experiencing homelessness and those at risk of housing exclusion. Approximately €8 million was allocated to the initiative.
Applications were open to local authorities and NGOs working in the field. Ten organisations applied, eight projects received funding, and together they are expected to support nearly 800 people.
The projects combine preventive, intervention, and activation measures. Planned activities include social work, mediation services, street outreach, psychological and legal counselling, support groups, assistance in negotiating debt repayments, and access to basic services such as laundry facilities, showers, and day centres. Recognising that stable housing is at the heart of any long-term solution, the programme also supports the creation and operation of transitional, supported, and service-integrated housing.
One of the most promising developments is the interest in the Housing First approach. Of the eight funded projects, six will implement this model. Housing First challenges the traditional assumption that people must first meet certain conditions before earning the right to housing. Instead, it begins by providing a home and then offers tailored support through multidisciplinary teams based on the individual’s needs.
This approach is particularly effective for people experiencing long-term homelessness and those facing mental health challenges or substance-use disorders. Housing becomes not a reward, but a starting point and a fundamental human right. As no organisation in the Silesian region has previously implemented Housing First on a larger scale, the coming years will provide valuable lessons and insights into its long-term effectiveness.
Our experience has also highlighted a significant gap in services available to women. While men represent the majority of people experiencing homelessness, homeless women are often more vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and social invisibility. Many remain unseen by support systems until their situation becomes critical. For this reason, the funding call introduced the possibility of creating emergency accommodation specifically for women, including those escaping violence. One of the funded projects will establish such a facility, offering an opportunity to deepen understanding of women’s experiences of homelessness.
People often speak about “homelessness by choice”, or homelessness caused by personal decisions. Such narratives rarely attract public sympathy and can make fundraising or volunteer recruitment difficult. Yet every experience of homelessness is unique. It is a story of someone's life, circumstances, choices, and struggles.
Fortunately, in Silesia there are NGOs, Foundations, and public institutions that have not looked away. For those working in social services, homelessness is not only a policy challenge. It is a test of empathy, openness, and our willingness to recognise the dignity of every person, regardless of their circumstances.
Check the project website : https://funduszeue.slaskie.pl/
Other projects by The Regional Government of Silesia
- Gliwice, „Station House
- Jaworzno, "The Way Home – Support and Development of Services for People in the Homeless Crisis in Jaworzno"
- Katowice, „From street to home – new perspectives for people in a homelessness crisis”
The Regional Government of Silesia is the collegiate body that heads the political, executive and administrative powers of the region of Silesia, Poland. The Department of the European Social Fund is responsible for applying for and financing social services-related programmes with European funding.