The Minister for Development Cooperation and Policy of Large Cities Meryame Kitir (Vooruit) spent the night from Friday to Saturday in the street in the company of around 70 citizens of Sint-Truiden. She will take part in the conference on the fight once morest homelessness which begins on Monday in Madrid.
At the invitation of several associations, the minister listened to several testimonies from homeless people in the Saint-Trond region. In addition to the problems of finding accommodation, these people often face many other obstacles that prevent their social integration. Last year, 12,000 homeless people were counted in Limburg.
In response, the minister mentioned her desire to deploy a housing plan in Saint-Trond which should make it possible to offer a roof to the homeless. “I heard a lot of strong testimonies, it’s not easy”, said the minister. “Above all, I remember that we must not forget that this is not an individual responsibility.”
Homelessness figures in Europe are alarming and one in five people affected is under 28 years old.
During the Madrid conference, Meryame Kitir will plead for more investment in “Housing First” social integration programs, which have been successfully deployed in certain countries. “In Finland, a project has demonstrated its sustainability: once people have left the streets, they have not returned. That is why it is important to fund a project that gives full support to people.”
