Four in 10 face decade-long wait for social housing
Around four in 10 people on the waiting list for social housing in Flanders face delays of more than 10 years, according to figures released by Groen MP Nadia Naji.
Data provided by Flemish Housing minister Hans Bonte shows that while the average waiting time is 4.8 years, this figure is skewed by a minority of faster allocations.
In 2024, 8,864 social homes were assigned, while the waiting list grew by nearly 22,000 households. By the end of 2025, a total of 209,843 households were registered.
Although roughly 35 per cent of applicants receive housing within two years, these cases often involve priority groups such as the homeless. Most applicants wait significantly longer, with three in five of those housed having spent more than four years on the list.
Naji argued that the average waiting time “does not reflect reality” for low-income households, many of whom face prolonged uncertainty. She also criticised stricter language and employment requirements imposed by the Flemish government, calling them unfair given the lengthy delays.
The Flemish government aims to build 50,000 social homes by 2042, but Groen says this target falls far short of demand, warning that chronic underbuilding is intensifying competition among vulnerable groups.
#FlandersNewsService | Social housing apartment blocks in Ghent © PHOTO WERNER LEROOY
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