Ghent keeps emergency village for Ukrainians open until 2027

Ghent’s emergency village for Ukrainian refugees will remain open until spring 2027. The Flemish government has decided to extend the project by one year, following the EU’s move to prolong temporary protection for Ukrainians.

Although far fewer people are now arriving each month (around 750 instead of more than 5,000 at the start of the war), the need for accommodation is still high. Many cities are scaling down their facilities, but new arrivals continue to look for a place to stay.

The village in Oostakker currently houses around 140 Ukrainian families, or more than 250 people. Since the site opened more than two years ago, it has offered shelter to hundreds of families.

Residents receive support from the city to find long-term housing, including info sessions and guidance from social workers. The tight rental market makes this challenging, but the extension gives families more time. Ukrainians in the village pay monthly rent for their stay, and Flanders has promised extra support for the guidance teams.

The Oostakker site is the only large collective shelter for Ukrainians still open in Flanders, after similar centres in Antwerp and Mechelen closed. Flanders covers the costs, while the City of Ghent runs the site. 

^{​#FlandersNewsService | Ghent’s emergency village for Ukrainian refugees © PHOTO NICHOLAS DE COCKER}