Belgium/Fighting homelessness: more than 2,200 people helped by the "Housing First" model in Belgium
More than 2,220 people have found stable housing thanks to the "Housing First" model since the first experiments in Belgium in 2013. These were the findings on Thursday of a report by SPP Social Integration on the issue of homelessness in Belgium.
The "Housing First" model offers permanent housing to homeless people, as a first step towards sustainable social reintegration. There are no intermediary stages, and no conditions to be met, compared with conventional rental accommodation. The target group is characterized by a high degree of fragility, due for example to a long history of living on the streets, or the presence of health problems or addiction. They also benefit from tailored, multi-disciplinary, open-ended support. The first tests of this model were carried out in 2013, initially in the country's five largest cities.
"Ambitious but realistic goal of eliminating homelessness by 2030"
Projects quickly multiplied in response to the model's success. There are now 47 of them, including 18 in Flanders, 18 in Wallonia and 11 in Brussels, says the SPP Social Integration in its report. In all, more than 2,220 people have found stability thanks to this model, 1,092 of whom are still being actively monitored. Just over a quarter of them are women. These figures, recorded in February, are underestimated, however, as they relate to just 35 projects. According to the federal public service, the "Housing First" model "has demonstrated its effectiveness in Belgium". However, it points to "numerous challenges" ahead. "It is crucial to maintain rigorous follow-up of the calls for projects, but also to continue improving the monitoring and evaluation system to guarantee the quality and effectiveness of the initiatives".
Source: www.rtbf.be/
