Vooruit aldermen lash out at Flemish government over homelessness: “Lack of resources from above” (Politics)

The cities of Antwerp, Ghent and Leuven are already doing their part in the fight against homelessness, but without additional support from Flanders they cannot close the gaps. Vooruit aldermen Rudy Coddens (Ghent), Bieke Verlinden (Leuven) and Tatjana Scheck (Antwerp) wrote this in an open letter to the Flemish ministers.

In Ghent, Leuven and Antwerp, 6,724 adults and children do not have a permanent roof over their heads. This concerns more than 20,000 people throughout Flanders. Vooruit is in power in each of those cities. “But our cities are stepping into the breach through 24/24 shelter, housing and social facilities,” write the three red aldermen. They mainly point the finger at the Flemish government. “There is a lack of resources and supportive policies from the top down.”

READ ALSO. 910 children in Antwerp are homeless: “Great shortage of affordable housing for families”

Kop van Jut is Flemish Minister of Housing and Budget Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). He would drag his feet when it comes to social housing. “The Flemish Minister of Housing has more than 2 billion euros available annually to provide affordable housing for the 180,000 families on a waiting list in Flanders. But hardly any have been built during this legislature,” is the accusation. “He (Diependaele, ed.) prefers to look at the money he saves as Minister of the Budget than at the affordable homes he builds as Minister of Housing.”

The aldermen conclude: “While our Flemish ministers sleep well, 20,000 Flemish people go into the night with fear. And we, as competent aldermen, are concerned about this. The billions are there, they just ask for a minister who gets his hands dirty and does his job.”

READ ALSO. Green on homelessness in Antwerp: “The results are shocking and alarming”