Belgium's agency for asylum reception, Fedasil, has suspended 1,800 of the country's 6,000 asylum seeker reception spots, Het Belang van Limburg reports. It primarily affects refugees unable to secure housing swiftly.
Recognised refugees cannot stay in a reception centre for over four months or local authorities risk losing government support. Many refugees cannot find alternative accommodation fast enough.
Consequently, 1,800 reception places are currently on hold, in part due to renovations or the use of these places for emergency shelters by the Public Centre for Social Welfare (CPAS).
Outgoing State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole de Moor (CD&V), recognised that finding accommodation isn't straightforward. However, her spokesperson emphasised that these places are needed for other refugees.
If asylum seekers stay longer, Fedasil will suspend these places and municipalities will not receive any more support. "Municipalities then become free to charge rent," de Moor's spokesperson cautioned.
