'Flanders must make affordable housing a top priority' says Ghent Housing Coalition
In Ghent, the housing coalition and the city council are asking the Flemish government to make affordable housing a top priority. They believe there should be more social housing and one social worker per 500 apartments instead of one per 1,000. Additionally, they would like to see sanctions for councils that fail to meet their social housing obligations.
Earlier this month, a referendum showed that affordable housing is an important issue for many residents. "The results of the referendum speak for themselves," says the Housing Coalition on the eve of the World Day of Resistance against Poverty. "Many citisens are concerned about affordable housing and are demanding action."
The Housing Coalition is comprised of about 50 civil society organisations working on affordable housing. Together with the city of Ghent, they made three demands to the Flemish government on Monday. They want the government to continue to finance and ensure the expansion of social housing, to reinstate a social charge in the Land and Property Decree, and for other Flemish competencies such as welfare, housing and energy to be aligned with the ambitions to realise affordable housing.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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