Kortrijk (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Kortrijk’s nonprofit De Kier, led by volunteer Gilda Schaerlackens, struggles as 30 homeless beds fill fast, a €6,000 city subsidy is cut, and poverty support declines amid rising local need.
As VRT News reported, Kortrijk faces a severe shortage of sleeping places for homeless people, says the nonprofit organisation De Kier. The group supports people living in poverty and provides daily assistance.
Volunteer Gilda Schaerlackens described the scene in their“living room.” Every morning, people who have spent the night on the streets line up as soon as the doors open.
“We give them coffee, and some fall asleep on the couches,”
Volunteer Gilda said.
“In the afternoon, we have to wake them because we close. There are simply not enough seats for everyone.”
What is being done as Kortrijk’s homeless shelter struggles to meet demand?
Access to shelter in Kortrijk works on a first-come, first-served basis. People must call at 11 a.m. to request a place to sleep. By 11:30, all 30 spots are usually filled. Schaerlackens said even doubling the number of places would not meet the demand. Many homeless people continue to spend nights on the street.
Kortrijk nonprofit De Kier helps people living in poverty in many ways, says volunteer Gilda Schaerlackens. The organisation supports residents with everyday problems, such as negotiating with bailiffs or providing financial help for groceries and energy bills.
It also guides people through administrative matters by referring them to the Public Centre for Social Welfare (OCMW) or the Central Agency for Social Welfare (CAW). All of these services are funded entirely through donations from private individuals.
Schaerlackens criticised the city’s recent decision to remove its €6,000 annual subsidy. She said the subsidy had been an important part of the organisation’s support. Without it, De Kier must rely fully on private donations to continue helping vulnerable residents.
“Other support is also being eliminated, such as the €2 extra social rate at the city’s social restaurant. And this while poverty in Kortrijk is increasing, although this isn’t always visible. It’s going in the wrong direction, and that’s a shame,”
she concludes.
For several years now, Kortrijk has been focusing on helping people experiencing homelessness. In March of 2022, the city began the Van Straat naar Zorg initiative, which provides multiple forms of assistance for those who live on the streets; to date, it has assisted approximately 250 homeless residents in the region.
In November of 2023, due to increased requests for assistance and a shortage of available spaces, Kortrijk increased the number of crisis beds available at the nightly shelter from 24 up to 30.
As additional requests for overnight accommodation increase due to the increasing number of individuals requiring overnight services, Kortrijk’s authorities, in cooperation with local welfare agencies, meet to discuss options for adding additional overnight accommodations.
