From Monday, Brussels will activate its cold weather plan for the city’s homeless, according to an announcement from the office of the Brussels Social Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo).
Sub-zero temperatures are expected from Sunday night, with lows of -3 degrees Celsius, and dropping to -5 degrees Celsius in the following nights. Given the forecast for this particularly cold period, it is intended to open up spaces to shelter from the extreme cold, starting from Monday.
The decision was made in agreement between the offices of the Federal Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Nicole De Moor (CD&V), Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, and Brussels Social Action Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo).
Specifically, Maron is planning additional shelter spaces for a temporary period of one month, accessible 24/7. Maron mentioned 100 extra spaces managed by the Red Cross and an additional 55 spaces in three Samusocial shelters. In total, therefore, an additional 155 spaces are expected.
The cold plan will provide shelter for homeless people against the freezing temperatures. Credit: Belga / Kristof Van Accom
Bruss’Help, mandated by the Joint Community Commission (GGC), is tasked with coordinating initiatives related to aid and shelter for the homeless in Brussels. This organisation is responsible for coordinating measures implemented as part of the cold weather plan.
Various homeless organisations, including Bruss’Help and Samusocial, announced a meeting on Thursday to finalise specific measures.
Discussions include assessing the feasibility of expanding spaces, since this might not be straightforward in all shelters due to internal constraints or capacity in some centres or organisations.
