City of Brussels: Nearly 2,000 homeless people recorded in the City of Brussels in 2024. Young people (16-24 years) account for 7% of the total and 637 children are directly or indirectly affected by homelessness. 3% work.
For the CPAS president of the City of Brussels, David Weytsman (MR), "The goal cannot only be to support people in precarious situations, but to reduce that precariousness. A homelessness plan will be proposed in the coming months."
The CPAS of the City of Brussels has just completed a study on homelessness in the capital. The figures it publishes show that at any given moment, 1,990 homeless people are being cared for by its services.
A growing phenomenon, similar to what is happening across the entire Brussels Region.
David Weytsman:
- "For the Region, between 2008 and 2022, the number of homeless people rose from 1,724 to 7,134, an increase of 314%. Unfortunately, we can speak of an explosion of the phenomenon. Field associations tell us we risk exceeding 10,000; a census is underway. What is very worrying is that the issue also affects children, accompanied or unaccompanied. In the Region, there are nearly 1,000 homeless minors. In the City of Brussels, 3% of homeless women are under 18. The study also shows that 637 children have a parent affected by homelessness."
A few figures at a glance:
- The phenomenon is concentrated within the pentagon (31%) but extends to the north of Brussels.
- 95% of homeless people are single individuals and 80% are men.
- The 30-39 age group accounts for 26%. The 40-49 age group ranks second with 24%. Young people (16-24 years) make up 7% of the total. Older people account for nearly 10% of the total.
- 36% of identified homeless people have no income at all. 3% work.
- Half of the people recorded have been living on the street for more than 2 years.
David Weytsman:
- "We have just received the study and will analyse it in detail. It highlights a worrying reality: homelessness continues to rise and affects many areas, including public health, safety, employment and housing. It overburdens our emergency services, weakens neighbourhood cohesion and, above all, prevents thousands of people from rebuilding their lives. We really need to move beyond simply managing the emergency and provide lasting solutions. The goal is not only to support people in precarious situations, but to reduce that precariousness. In the coming months, we will present a strategic plan to prevent, manage and reduce homelessness. But this issue goes beyond the CPAS alone: the next Brussels government must make it a priority. We can no longer let this phenomenon get worse."