PoIDS: €26.77 million for services for homeless people, submission by 30 November

The Social Inclusion and Dignity Programme (PoIDS) launched the competitive call "Support services for the social inclusion of homeless people" on 29 September 2026, with a budget of €26.77 million. Town halls, DGASPCs, other public social assistance bodies and social service providers from all regions can apply. Applications must be submitted in MySMIS2021 by 30 November 2026, 16:00.

In brief

• Programme: Social Inclusion and Dignity Programme 2021–2027, Priority P08, Action 8.2 "Integrated services for other categories of vulnerable groups" (ESF+)
• Authority: Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE), PoIDS Managing Authority
• Beneficiaries: local public authorities and UATs, DGASPCs, public bodies responsible for social assistance, social service providers, public institutions
• Total budget: €26,767,012, of which €20,058,189 is EU contribution and €6,708,823 comes from the national budget
• Coverage: national, all development regions, including Bucharest-Ilfov
• Submission period: 29 September 2026, 16:00 – 30 November 2026, 16:00, in MySMIS2021
• Status: call launched, competitive, with a deadline

Who can apply?

The guide lists the following eligible applicants:

• local public authorities and UATs (communes, towns, municipalities, counties);
• the General Directorates for Social Assistance and Child Protection (DGASPC);
• other public bodies responsible for social assistance;
• social service providers;
• public institutions.

The call page does not explicitly mention NGOs as applicants. If you are an association accredited as a social service provider, or want to join as a partner, check the eligibility and partnership rules in the full guide.

Which activities are mandatory?

The project must include two mandatory activities:

1. Identifying homeless people and those experiencing housing exclusion, using the case management methodology and the social inquiry.
2. Providing at least one licensed social service: an emergency residential social service (code 879.2.1 SRUS-PFA) or a support service (code 889.3.7 SSUP-AGV).

The target group is homeless people and those experiencing housing exclusion, including young people over 18 leaving the special protection system. The guide also allows minor repairs or fitting-out of premises, within the 15% flexibility limit for ERDF-type costs. The premises must keep their intended use throughout implementation and the sustainability period.

How and by when do you apply?

The application is completed and submitted in MySMIS2021, between 29 September 2026 (16:00) and 30 November 2026 (16:00). The call is competitive, so projects are scored and ranked after submission rather than approved in order of arrival. Co-financing depends on the type of applicant and is set according to the tables in the Applicant's Guide – PoIDS General Conditions. The specific guide and annexes can be downloaded from the archive published by MIPE on the call page.

What this means for your town hall or institution

Our recommendation, as consultants: two months is a short period for a service that must be licensed. If your UAT or DGASPC does not already have an accredited emergency shelter or support service, start now:

• Check the accreditation of the provider and the status of the licence for the service you are proposing.
• Estimate the need using data from social inquiries and from the records of the public social assistance service. Evaluators look for a clear link between the figures on the ground and the capacity of the service.
• Secure the premises: if you are using a building that needs fitting out, check the ownership or administration documents and that the works fall within the 15% limit.
• Plan for sustainability: the service must keep running after the project ends, so the local budget must be able to take over the costs.

The call suits municipalities and county seats in particular, where homelessness is most visible, but also county councils through their DGASPCs. For an initial check you can use the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

What is the budget of the PoIDS call for homeless people?

The total budget is €26,767,012, of which €20,058,189 comes from the European Social Fund Plus and €6,708,823 from the national budget. The call covers all development regions of Romania.

Can a commune town hall apply?

Yes. Local public authorities and UATs are among the eligible applicants. The practical condition is that the project must include at least one licensed social service, either emergency residential or support.

Can NGOs apply?

The list of applicants includes "social service providers", but does not explicitly name NGOs. An association accredited as a social service provider should check the full guide to see whether it can apply on its own or only as a partner.

What is the submission deadline?

Applications must be submitted in MySMIS2021 by 30 November 2026, 16:00. The call opened on 29 September 2026 at 16:00.

Official sources

• Announcement of the PoIDS call launch on oportunitati-ue.gov.ro
• Call page "Support services for the social inclusion of homeless people"
• MIPE announcement and call documents (ZIP archive)

Information checked on 29 September 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.