Majority of Brussels’ homeless struggle with addiction and mental health issues

Most homeless people living on the streets of Brussels face alcohol and drug addiction, with nearly half also experiencing mental health problems, according to new research published in Brussels Studies.

The study, led by KU Leuven researcher Stef Adriaenssens, street worker Bert De Bock and Odisee lecturer Mieke Schrooten, analysed data from homeless charity Diogenes vzw. It sheds light on a largely “invisible” group in the city.

The research found that the majority of Brussels’ homeless are men, with more than two-thirds holding non-Belgian nationality. Many come from Poland and Romania, including a significant Roma minority. A large share of these individuals live with precarious or undocumented residency status.

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Addiction and mental illness were widespread. Around half of the city’s homeless population struggle with both, while over 40 per cent of beggars specifically reported substance dependency. Women and Roma were likely to resort to begging, particularly when lacking other sources of income such as welfare support.

The authors argue that begging is often a survival strategy and a last resort when other options fail. Compared with alternatives such as street prostitution or petty crime, they note, it remains the less harmful (though still deeply precarious) choice.

^{© BELGA PHOTO SISKA GREMMELPREZ}