Publication of the final report of the "Face-to-Face for Housing" action

Brussels, December 3, 2020. Nearly half of the homeless people interviewed have been on the street for at least two years and two thirds have no source of income. These are the results of a survey organized in the Brussels Region at the end of September by the 400Toits campaign. In addition, almost one person in two said they had been beaten or attacked since becoming homeless.

Last September, the 400Toits campaign - which works to end homelessness in Brussels - organized its third edition of "Face-to-Face for Housing". During three evenings, 250 volunteers and field workers interviewed homeless people in order to identify their profile and their needs.

A total of 167 people participated in the survey among the 468 people who were seen at the action. Of these 167 participants, the majority were men between the ages of 46 and 59. Almost one third of the participants suffer from a chronic health problem related to one or more vital organs (liver, kidneys, stomach, lungs, heart). 30% are unable to meet all of their basic needs (such as bathing, changing clothes, going to the bathroom, finding food and drinking water). Almost half of homeless people have no activities that bring them joy and fulfillment. Finally, 30 years is the highest number of years spent on the street among participants.

© F. Loward

Concerns

"While the results are mostly the same as in previous editions (2017 and 2018), they are still concerning," says Adrienne Vanvyve, coordinator of the 400Toits Campaign. "We note a significant increase in women with a high degree of vulnerability (from 28.6% in 2017 to 50% in 2020), i.e. requiring sustainable housing with intensive support. In addition, the percentage of people hospitalized at least once in the past 6 months has also increased, from 14.9% in 2018 to 21% in 2020."

This third edition of the Face-to-Face for Housing, organized in the midst of the health crisis, highlighted the fact that more than half of the participants have not had access to any type of accommodation since mid-March, despite the efforts of the Brussels government. In addition to the social impact of this crisis, which is already being felt on the ground, property prices in the Brussels Region have risen by 4% since the first decontamination, exacerbating the already deep-seated housing crisis.

"With these alarming findings, the 400Toits campaign continues to advocate for the establishment of a structural policy to end homelessness. This echoes the resolution adopted on November 24 by the European Parliament calling on the European Union and its Member States to end homelessness by 2030," concludes Adrienne Vanvyve.

Help us end homelessness !

The 400Toits Campaign brings together a dozen associations that rethink homelessness through actions such as the creation of housing. More information on https://400toits-daken.com

© F. Loward