Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): Samat’s family struggles to find shelter at the overwhelmed Humanitarian Hub in Brussels amid heavy rain and freezing temperatures. Fedasil reports 4,383 asylum applications in October, intensifying the crisis.
Samat is looking for a place to sleep on 20 November for his family while they wait at the Humanitarian Hub in Brussels. Rain makes things difficult, and they face difficulties with wet clothes and sick kids. The Hub, which provides various forms of assistance, is struggling to find shelter for migrants, as many organizations are full. As temperatures drop near freezing, many families are forced to sleep on the streets.
How is Brussels addressing its shelter crisis amid rising asylum applications in Belgium?
Brussels is facing a severe shelter crisis, with 527 families seeking assistance since the start of 2024, double the number from the previous year. Many organizations, including Fedasil and Samusocial, are overwhelmed and unable to accommodate families, leaving 276 without shelter. They mentioned that the emotional toll is evident as parents question their children’s worth in the cold reality of homelessness, highlighting the urgent need for more support and resources for vulnerable families.
It has been said that every winter providing shelter becomes a challenge, especially with the recent increase in asylum applications in Belgium, which reached 4,383 in October, the highest since 2015. While Fedasil can’t provide for around 2,650 single men, they ensure families with children have a place to stay. Organizations like Samusocial report that families seeking asylum are in urgent need of help, but many are at risk of being left out in the cold as emergency shelter spots are being reduced.
