2023-12-10 05:00:00
In Belgium last year there were more than 23,000 homeless people and people who do not have their own accommodation. Wallonia has just released 34 million euros to help them. She wants to create “zero homeless territories”. How can we help the homeless as poverty increases and temperatures drop? What will this money released by Wallonia be used for?
“Would you have some change please?” Julien asks passers-by in Namur. But he keeps refusing. “That’s everyday life. People don’t calculate us.”
Julien has been on the street for months, day and night, with temperatures often close to zero degrees. “At night, I don’t sleep, I walk. During the day, I curl up in a warm place and rest. You will always see me with a smile. By crying, it won’t change anything. By sulking, it won’t change anything . You simply have to remain yourself.” confides the homeless man.
Upcoming arrival of 24 beds in several buildings
There are dozens of them sleeping in the streets of Namur. At the end of 2021, there were 86. And today, there are many more of them, the city’s social network assures us. So how can we help them? A crucial step is emerging: the upcoming arrival of 24 beds spread across several buildings. “We arrive in the space which is common to the people who will be able to live here. The intention is to have four people who are isolated and who can come here as a community,” shows Philippe Noël, president of the CPAS of Namur.
Wallonia is today releasing 3 million euros for Namur. This amount makes it possible to purchase these houses. “Here is one of the four rooms of the house that we are going to acquire”, adds the president of the CPAS.
But what especially catches our attention is the specific approach. Here, it is not the emergency and the provisional that take precedence but the long term. “Allow people to have permanent housing and not to go from one place to another where they have the capacity to be accommodated for three months in one place, then six months in another. And therefore having to get moving once more each time. Here, they can invest in the place from the start, it’s their home.” underlines Philippe Noël.
“It’s being able to pay rent, have a home and live. Give them the opportunity to make requests to actually obtain rental assistance and to be able to put all the multidisciplinary teams around them to be able to ensure that these people remain in housing”, explains Olivier Hissette, coordinator of the Namur urban social relay.
We feel an increase in precariousness
As a social worker, François knows the homeless well. Accompanied by Julie, a nurse, they go to meet the homeless, establish a connection and offer their help. “We have tissues, water bottles, neck warmers, hats, gloves and also small heaters”lists Julie, while opening her backpack.
“Clearly, what we feel is an increase in precariousness, whether in Namur, in Wallonia or in Belgium almost everywhere. We have the impression in any case that there is a greater proportion of people we welcome who are currently without housing”, indicates François Lavis, social worker and coordinator of the non-profit organization Namur Entraide Sida.
There are more than a thousand people considered to be poorly housed in Namur, homeless or forced to squat or sleep with relatives. Almost as much as in Charleroi, also faced with this growing precariousness. “Inflation, the increase in energy costs which has put a lot of people who were already a little vulnerable into precariousness. But there is also the housing crisis, quite simply the increase in rents,” indicates Jérémy Wilmot, coordinator of the extreme cold plan in Charleroi.
Charleroi will receive 4 million euros
To support these people in difficulty, Charleroi will receive 4 million euros. Sometimes large families. With his seven children, Sébastien found refuge in a shelter. Months of patience before returning to their home, which is currently unsanitary.
In Namur, some new housing will be available in a few months. As for Julien, he confides his desire to leave the street as quickly as possible. “I’m 52 years old and I’m not going to let it happen. I don’t hope. I’ll get through it”he says.
homeless homeless Namur charleroi
1702205385
#Wallonia #releases #million #homeless #night #dont #sleep #confides #Julien #faced #winter #cold
