Flanders presents action plan to combat homelessness
The Flemish government has presented an action plan to combat homelessness. The plan focuses in particular on young people and people with additional problems.
Flanders has around 20,000 homeless people. More than a quarter of them are minors. The new plan focuses primarily on prevention, avoiding evictions. For example, if someone can no longer pay their utility bills, this must be detected more quickly. The Fund for Combating Evictions will be better publicised among the public centres for social welfare (OCMW/CPAS).
One target group that receives special attention is that of vulnerable young people leaving youth care. They sometimes become homeless or end up couch-surfing with friends. From now on, the government wants to ensure that every young person who leaves an institution has a roof over their head. In addition, extra attention will be paid to young people who are victims of domestic violence, people who have stayed in a mental health facility and those who are reintegrating after detention.
For people with psychological, psychiatric or addiction problems, there will be a house of a general welfare centre (CAW) in every primary care zone. The CAW house will assess what specific care is needed and provide the appropriate assistance.
Anyone who loses their home must be provided with temporary emergency accommodation. At the end of last year, the government invested 10.2 million euros in the construction and renovation of 154 emergency homes. In order to combat the housing shortage in a broader sense, additional funds have also been allocated for social housing.
"When someone loses everything, we must guarantee a safety net"
“A roof over your head is the basis of everything,” stated Flemish minister for poverty reduction Caroline Gennez. "You need a home to look for a job, open a bank account, raise your children safely, enrol them in school, and for your own health. With this plan, we not only want to prevent people from becoming homeless, but we also want to offer the right support and guidance, with accessible, tailor-made care."
“No one chooses to lose their home,” added housing minister Hans Bonte. “When someone loses everything, we as a strong government must guarantee a safety net. That is why we are now investing again in extra emergency housing, in more security for families.”
#FlandersNewsService | Illustration © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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