Hasselt (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): Michel Verhoeven from Kolmont is dealing with people sleeping in the old courthouse basement by removing mattresses. Renovations start next week, and he wants to keep everyone safe while helping those in need.
Michel Verhoeven from Kolmont has talked about the issue of people seeking temporary shelter in the basement of the old courthouse on Havermark. Recently, there were several mattresses for people looking for a place to sleep. To stop this, Verhoeven’s maintenance team took away the mattresses so the basement wouldn’t be used for sleeping anymore. He understands that this needs to be handled carefully and wants to let those seeking shelter know that the basement is not a suitable place for them.
How is Michel Verhoeven Addressing Shelter Issues in Hasselt?
It has been said that Verhoeven stresses that he wants to handle the situation gently, not harshly. He aims to keep the property safe and well-maintained while also being kind to people in need. By dealing with the issue thoughtfully, he wants to protect the building’s integrity while respecting the dignity of those who are vulnerable. This approach shows his commitment to managing the property carefully without using aggressive methods.
Kolmont has a plan to prevent squatting by having temporary residents watch over buildings that are about to be renovated, which helps keep them secure. However, since demolition is starting next week, the old courthouse on Havermark no longer has these temporary residents. Project developer Michel Verhoeven sees this as a problem because more people are looking for a place to sleep at night. He knows it’s important to keep unauthorized people out of the building during this change, even though the situation is sensitive. Kolmont wants to protect its properties while being aware of the bigger issues of homelessness and housing insecurity in the community.
The building is getting ready for renovation. In the basement, they’ve marked spots where they need to remove asbestos, and upstairs, they’ll be selling parts of the interior that can’t be used anymore this Sunday. Michel Verhoeven says, “We want to protect the parts of this building that we want to reuse.” The project developer will check the courthouse and see what extra security is needed. He adds, “After this weekend, demolition will start, and it won’t be safe for unauthorized people to be around the site. We can’t take that chance.”
