Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper): The Train Hostel in Brussels reopened for homeless families, providing shelter and support. After helping 607 people last year, it faces closure again in five months, highlighting ongoing housing challenges.
The former youth hostel in Brussels, which opened in March 2023 as an emergency shelter for the homeless, helped 607 people, including 136 families. However, it faced financial problems and had to close after just one year, leaving many without a place to stay. Authorities are now looking for urgent housing solutions for these vulnerable individuals. Meanwhile, the building has been repurposed as a temporary shelter for asylum seekers to help with overcrowding in the city’s reception centers.
What solutions are being implemented for homeless families at Brussels’ train hostel?
The Train Hostel has reopened as an emergency shelter for homeless families, a group that often doesn’t receive enough support. The French-speaking Red Cross, which runs the shelter, noted that families in crisis face more difficulties finding help because there are not enough spaces in Brussels’ shelters. By focusing on these families, the Train Hostel offers a safe place to stay, helping to fill an important need in the city’s social services.
Families at the Train Hostel receive shelter, meals, and support, including medical care from Doctors. However, the hostel is only a temporary winter solution. Many people seeking protection have been there for 8 months and have been moved to other shelters by the French-speaking Red Cross. The organization says that vulnerable families, including those with babies, are facing uncertainty as the shelter may close again in 5 months.
