The Red Cross’ emergency reception centre in Anderlecht is set to gradually expand to a total capacity of 188 beds, the organisation announced on Monday.
Initially, Belgium’s Red Cross, commissioned by Bruss’Help, opened the centre in Anderlecht on Sunday 7 January, with space to accommodate 100 individuals.
In its initial week of operation (eight nights), the centre recorded 637 overnight stays. Open 24/7, the centre caters primarily to single men who can stay for a non-stop week before possibly extending their stay through Samusocial dispatching. Residents receive three meals daily, hygiene products, shower facilities and support from the Red Cross team of employees and volunteers.
The centre will remain fully operational for at least a month, with the potential to extend its operations if weather conditions require so. The Red Cross is already managing two other shelter centres in Brussels, offering approximately 210 accommodation spots in total, at the Belliard centre and the "Train Hostel" in Schaerbeek, which primarily houses families with children.
Concurrently, the Red Cross continues to escalate its winter activities across the country, including in Brussels, with four day centres in Saint-Gilles, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Ganshoren-Koekelberg, and Ixelles. The Humanitarian Hub, operating in consortium with other organisations seven days a week, caters to the urgent needs of migrants.
The grand winter plan came into effect last Monday in the capital. It is an emergency solution aimed at housing Brussels’ homeless and those with precarious housing, when the temperature drops below zero.
In total, 5,045 accommodation spots are available year-round in Brussels, including 3,084 emergency accommodation spots.
Homeless people are assigned to different reception centres, including those run by Samusocial and the Red Cross, through the free, 24-hour Samusocial hotline, 0800/99.340.
