Empty Spaces News

Welcome to the official news hub for the Empty Spaces project. This page is dedicated to providing comprehensive updates, in-depth articles, and key insights into the project’s progress and achievements.

Here, you will find the latest information not only about the project’s milestones and initiatives but also news from the two countries at the heart of Empty Spaces: Poland and Great Britain. By highlighting developments from both regions, we aim to offer a well-rounded perspective on the project’s impact and scope.

Whether you are a long-standing supporter or a new visitor, this page serves as your trusted resource for staying informed about all aspects of the Empty Spaces journey. We invite you to explore regularly as we continue to share updates and stories that define the evolution of this exciting initiative.

Please contact:

Europe and the Middle east
Zuzana Matlonova
Project manager
Email: [email protected]
Poland
Magdalena Kostrzewska
Project manager
Email: [email protected]
Great Britain
Gina Almeida
Project manager
Email: [email protected]

Empty Spaces News

50 Cities: Turning Europe's Empty Spaces into Homes

50 cities. One shared ambition. More affordable homes from the buildings we already have.Across Europe, millions of people struggle to access decent, affordable housing, while millions of buildings and homes remain vacant or underused. What if part of the solution to Europe’s housing crisis is already standing?

Learn more

Emtpy spaces to homes Conference - Email invitation.png

From Empty Spaces to Homes: Join Habitat for Humanity in Katowice to Explore the Future of Housing in Europe

October 15, 2026

With millions of dwellings standing empty across Europe while affordable housing remains out of reach for many, Habitat for Humanity is bringing together cities, policymakers, researchers and housing experts to explore a different approach: turning vacant spaces into homes.

New research: Financial Instruments for Renovation of Vacant Spaces in Europe

June 05, 2026

Across Europe, millions of buildings stand empty while people struggle to find affordable places to live. HFHI conducted this research to better understand which financial mechanisms and models are most effective in converting vacant spaces into affordable housing. Looking across different European cities, the study examines how tools like loans, grants, revolving funds, and blended finance actually perform in practice - and why some approaches succeed while others fall short.

Former Kindergarten Becomes Affordable Housing for Displaced Families in Ukraine

May 06, 2026

(Kalush, Ukraine – 30 April, 2026) Even as the war continues, Ukraine is rebuilding—not only its infrastructure, but also its communities. In the western Ukrainian city of Kalush, an abandoned kindergarten has been transformed into 48 modern, affordable apartments, providing homes for around 150 people. What was once an empty public building for over 20 years is now a vibrant residential complex for internally displaced families.

Turning Empty Buildings into Homes. How Bytom Shows a New Way Forward in Affordable Housing

December 15, 2025

In the heart of Bytom, a historic 19th-century tenement building on Piekarska Street, Poland, has been given a new life. Long abandoned and deteriorating, the building has been transformed into four warm, safe, and modern apartments, offering families—including Ukrainian refugees and local residents—a chance to call this central Silesian city home. What was once a vacant, neglected property is now a symbol of hope, cooperation, and sustainable urban regeneration. It is proof that solving Europe’s housing crisis does not always require new construction—sometimes it’s about breathing new life into what already exists.

New housing research. Turning Vacant Spaces into Social Housing in Poland

December 14, 2025

Poland’s housing challenge is often framed as a problem of shortage. Yet across the country, thousands of buildings stand empty or underused—many of them publicly owned—while access to affordable housing remains out of reach for low-income households and vulnerable groups. This contradiction lies at the center of a new research (August 2025) study exploring how non-residential vacancies could become part of the solution.

New housing research. Repurposing Empty Spaces to Address the Housing Crisis in Great Britain

December 15, 2025

Across England, Scotland, and Wales, the housing crisis continues to deepen. Record levels of homelessness, rising temporary accommodation costs, and a chronic shortage of genuinely affordable homes are placing enormous pressure on households and local authorities alike. At the same time, thousands of buildings—many of them publicly owned—sit vacant or underused, representing a missed opportunity to respond more quickly and sustainably to housing need.

How Hungary’s Empty Spaces Could Become the Future of Affordable Housing

April 08, 2025

Hungary’s housing landscape presents a striking contradiction. Despite a growing number of dwellings—over 4.5 million—more than 570,000 stand vacant, while nearly 3 million people struggle with housing poverty. At the same time, the country’s population continues to shrink, creating a disconnect between where homes exist and where they’re needed most. A new research study from Habitat for Humanity Hungary takes a deep dive into this complex picture, offering an eye-opening look at how a more inclusive, affordable, and sustainable housing future might be built—quite literally—out of empty spaces.

Unlocking the Potential of Empty Spaces in Croatia

April 08, 2025

Croatia is facing a paradox: while housing costs are rising and many young people are locked out of the rental and ownership markets, nearly a third of all homes meant for permanent residence sit empty. This contrast lies at the heart of a new research report on the country’s housing landscape—one that uncovers not just the challenges, but the untapped opportunities for creating more inclusive, sustainable communities.

Addressing Energy Poverty and Housing Shortages in Europe

Europe is facing a dual crisis—an escalating housing shortage and a pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. With over 900,000 people homeless each night and 30 million vacant homes across Europe, the paradox is striking: while many struggle without adequate shelter, millions of properties remain unused. At the same time, residential buildings account for 36% of CO₂ emissions and 40% of energy consumption in the EU.

Turning Empty Spaces into Affordable, Sustainable Homes

January 29, 2025

The housing crisis and environmental sustainability are two of the most pressing challenges of our time. But what if we could address both simultaneously? That’s the bold vision behind Empty Spaces to Homes project, an innovative initiative launched in January 2024. Led by Habitat for Humanity International and funded by the Laudes Foundation, this initiative is transforming vacant and underutilized spaces in Poland, Great Briatin, Hungary, and Croatia into affordable, energy-efficient homes.

Affordable Housing, The Missing Piece in Europe’s Just Transition Puzzle

Can a transition to a greener economy be just if millions of people still lack access to safe, affordable housing? As Europe embarks on its ambitious journey toward a climate-neutral future, it risks overlooking one of the most foundational elements of a truly Just Transition: housing. Far more than just shelter, housing underpins economic stability, social equity, and environmental sustainability.

Strategies for Affordable Housing and Thriving Communities

August 15, 2024

The housing crisis in the European Union has grown into a challenge that no one can afford to ignore. What was once a struggle for the most vulnerable is now an everyday concern for middle-income families. Over the past decade, house prices have surged by 47%, and rents have climbed by 18%, leaving millions in precarious living situations. These rising costs are just the tip of the iceberg. Behind the statistics are real people—families, seniors, and young adults—struggling to find secure, affordable, and decent homes.

Habitat for Humanity and Laudes Foundation Join Forces to Tackle Housing and Climate Crises

July 15, 2024

Bratislava (July 15, 2024) - Habitat for Humanity and the leading philanthropic foundation called Laudes Foundation are proud to announce a transformative three-year partnership aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of social housing and climate change through a flagship regional project devoted to renovating and repurposing vacant spaces into homes.

We are helping to transform empty spaces into homes

Have you ever considered the sheer number of unused commercial and business premises scattered about? Just picture this: Rather than constructing new houses and apartment complexes, why not repurpose these vacant spaces into warm and welcoming homes for those struggling to find a decent and secure place to live?

Before and after photos of an underutilized apartment rehabilitated by Habitat Poland.

Converting underutilized spaces into adequate housing

Habitat is transforming underutilized buildings and vacant apartments into adequate housing, demonstrating that upgrading existing buildings can be a viable component to addressing the global housing deficit.

Photo: Michal's studio apartment with a mural of a red ship

Once Unused Attic - Today Seven Studios

Young Poles who have aged out of the foster care find their home in seven newly renovated studios. Michal says he has never felt more grounded and is finishing his studies in history.

Just BE Manifesto - Practical Policies for a Just and Resilient Built Environment

July 15, 2024

What if we could tackle Europe’s housing crisis, create millions of green jobs, and fight climate change—all at the same time? That’s the bold vision behind the Just BE Manifesto, where “Just BE” stands for a Just and Resilient Built Environment. Officially titled Practical Policies for a Just and Resilient Built Environment, this powerful call to action was launched in September 2024. It represents a collaborative effort by a coalition of civil society organizations, NGOs, trade unions, local governments, and business representatives, facilitated by the Laudes Foundation.

Turning empty spaces into homes 

Ana Carolina Gomes, Associate Director for Strategy and Operations at Habitat for Humanity International, is leading efforts to address the gap of over 30 million homes in Europe sitting vacant and 900,000 people being homeless each night. At the World Urban Forum organized by UN-Habitat in November 2024, she outlined Habitat for Humanity’s plan to repurpose vacant buildings—a strategy that combines social impact with environmental responsibility. The goal is to increase affordvble housing while also reducing carbon emissions. 

Unlocking the potential of empty spaces for housing and climate solutions

Last year, Habitat for Humanity International had the opportunity to participate in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE) Forum of Mayors in Geneva, Switzerland. This high-level event brought together representatives from 40 national governments, local authorities, and housing and climate experts from across the continent to explore sustainable urban solutions. We joined the forum to present one of our most transformative initiatives—Empty Spaces to Homes—a project that reimagines vacant buildings as a key part of solving Europe’s housing and climate crises.