Belgium
The Housing First model has been tested since 2013 in Belgium, led by the Housing First Lab established by the PPS Social Integration. After an initial test phase, 25 Housing First projects are up and running all around Belgium in 2022.
In 2012 the Belgian government published the Anti-Poverty plan which laid the ground for the establishment of Housing First around Belgium. These favourable conditions led to public and private actors in Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège to concretely test Housing First practices.
The first testing phase took place from 2013 until 2016 in three medium-sized cities: Hasselt, Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and Namur. The results of the pilot project showed that 86% of the people places in Housing First projects following the core principles were still housed after the three-year testing phase ended. This testing phase therefore proved to be successful and as a result, 25 Housing First projects are established in Belgium (as of 2022). In addition to that, the Housing First Belgium-LAB got established, which is a public structure that provides support and technical assistance to the Housing First services in Belgium.
Organisations
Trainers
Geert De Bolle
Housing First Lab
Country: Belgium
Languages: DutchEnglish“For me, Housing First is about dignity. By offering people back a home that is really theirs, you give them so much more: freedom and autonomy, life chances, future,…
Muriel Allart
Smes
Country: Belgium
Languages: FrenchMuriel is a Psychologist with 10 years of experience in Harm Reduction. She has been a Housing First Manager since 2013 – including ACT + ICM team management –…
Peter Brepoels
Steunpunt Mens en Samenleving
Country: Belgium
Languages: DutchEnglishPeter started to work in youth and young adult care in the nineties, being focused on youth at risk of becoming homeless or young adults being homeless. At the…
Peter-Jan Heylenbosch
Goodmen services – Freelancer
Country: Belgium
Languages: DutchEnglishSince the beginning of my career as a social worker I loved working with people suffering homelesness. I started working in day shelter for homless people during my studies…
Rémi Dekoninck
Diogènes (Station Logement)/ Projet Lama
Country: Belgium
Languages: FrenchRémi has 20 years of experience working in the social sector, with experience in a wide range of social and homeless services, including: Social Worker since 2000 Social Housing…
Thomas Lambrechts
Capuche asbl
Country: Belgium
Languages: FrenchDevelopment of associative project for more than 20 years. I have worked in the fields of culture, politics, sport/leisure and real estate. Investing 100% in HF4Y projects since 2021.