The number of homeless people in Brussels has risen sharply over the past two years, POLITICO reports.
On one night in November 2024, 9,777 homeless people were recorded in Brussels, up 25% from the previous count in 2022, according to a study by Bruss’Help, the regional homelessness coordination agency, published on Wednesday.
About 4,000 people on the night of the count stayed in homeless shelters or vacant buildings with the owner’s permission. Another 992 people slept in public places, including underground stations, a 23% increase from 2022. Of these 992 people, more than 600 were in municipalities on the outskirts of Brussels, showing that the problem has spread beyond the city centre.
A further 2,649 people, 27% of the total, lived in non-traditional housing, including unauthorised housing structures, temporary dwellings or squats. 1,539 people, 16% of the total, were living with third parties.
According to Bruss’Help, “the scale of the problem exceeds all individual initiatives” and the organisation hopes the report will help policy makers develop “more effective, structural and humane public policies.”
Bruss’Help’s biennial survey, which is conducted with the help of volunteers, tracks various forms of homelessness across the region. A more detailed qualitative analysis is expected in June.
