While homelessness is often seen as an urban phenomenon, it is also a reality in small municipalities in Belgium, according to a detailed study initiated by the King Baudouin Foundation (KBF).
The findings show that homelessness is also a reality in small municipalities (fewer than 15,000 inhabitants): about one in three homeless people in Wallonia and one in nine in Flanders do not live in cities.
"Homelessness is not just a city thing. It goes somewhat against the stereotypical perception but homelessness is clearly also present in small municipalities," Nana Mertens (KU Leuven) of the LUCAS Centre for Care Research and Consultancy told The Brussels Times.
While there are some differences between the profiles of those who are homeless in small municipalities and those in big cities, they are rather small – "again, somewhat against expectations," Mertens observed.
Inter-municipal cooperation
The bigger difference is in their accommodation situations: in smaller municipalities people are more likely to stay with family or friends. "In cities, homeless people are more likely to sleep in public spaces, such as on the street, on a bench or in a train station. This does not happen so much in smaller areas."
Additionally, homeless people in big cities are much more present in emergency shelters than in smaller towns. "If there is a larger city in the vicinity people will likely go there for shelter. Therefore, it could be a good idea for municipalities to work together on that issue and offer shelter."
While the estimated numbers of homeless people in Flanders and Wallonia are very similar (19,479 and 19,055, respectively), they are spread very differently over the regions. In Flanders, about 12% of homeless people reside in municipalities with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants; for Wallonia, that percentage rises to 31%.
"Those high figures for Wallonia can be explained, among other things, by the higher proportion of small municipalities in Wallonia, the lower population density and the greater distance to larger cities," Mertens said.
Making a bed in an emergency shelter. Credit: Marc Wallican/W13
In small municipalities, the percentage of homeless people who are female, Belgian, with a partner and underage children and recently homeless is slightly higher than in larger municipalities. Additionally, the proportion of children who are homeless together with their parent(s) is also higher in smaller municipalities than in larger ones.
Also striking is the high proportion of people staying in an institution but having to leave it, especially in Flanders. "These are often people staying in a Fedasil reception centre, for example. They do not actually live in that municipality but the centre happens to be located there. Once they leave the centre, they will likely also leave the small municipality."
To optimise the approach to homelessness in small municipalities, the research teams put forward the need for inter-municipal cooperation. "This ensures that actions are coordinated and that common solutions can be provided, such as an umbrella offer for transitional housing," Mertens said.
