Yesterday's Brief put Belgium's highest-earning individuals in the spotlight, with the immensity of their salaries illustrated by the fact that they had already made as much as the median annual wage in little more than a week.
But the remarkable cold that has settled over Brussels this week has also put the city's homeless in the spotlight, a community (if such a term can be used) that normally blends into the urban scenery, habitually overlooked by everyone more fortunate than themselves and let down by the systems that should prevent them having to live rough.
It's not that individual city dwellers are unaware of the homeless or unfeeling towards them; the fact that it is uncomfortable to contemplate those less fortunate than ourselves is proof of our shared humanity. But urban environments rarely encourage us to act generously or to think beyond our personal wants. In a space organised around commerce and individual gain, selfless sentiments are a low priority.
Yet with temperatures not rising above zero for a series of days (it was -6°C in Brussels this morning), any time outside is measured by time until we return to interior warmth. This shared sensitivity makes it harder to pass by those without a place to go.
Their acute need has triggered urgent action by authorities, who have made Brussels Midi station available at night alongside efforts to open spaces in temporary accommodation. The municipality of Etterbeek has even made it a legal requirement for homeless persons to go to shelters during the night – where they also will receive a medical checkup.
But the exceptional measures also highlight how inadequate the city's provision for homeless people is. NGOs that assist those in need have criticised the fact that only biting cold has prompted a response from authorities. Moreover, they point out that the number of homeless in Brussels has more than doubled in the past ten years: they number over 7,000 in the Brussels-Capital Region, of which about 25% are children.
When will lasting steps be taken to address the issue? As so often happens in Brussels, the problem has given rise to much pointing of fingers, authorities apparently unsure of where responsibility lies. But when the need is so painfully obvious how long will it be unanswered? Let @Orlando_tbt know.
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1. 'A plaster on a bullet hole': Brussels activates Extreme Cold plan for homeless people
"It is as if, every year, the authorities are surprised that it is cold in winter." Read more.
2. Antwerp Port sees drop in cargo as organised crime presents key challenge
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges saw its cargo handling decrease 5.5% from 2022 to 2023. Organised crime is considered the preeminent challenge facing the port, which is central to the economy of Flanders and European supply chains. Read more.
3. Bank like a local: Opening an account in Belgium
Arriving in Belgium can be daunting. While welcoming and well-suited for expats, Belgium is overly bureaucratic and the smallest task – such as opening a bank account – can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Read more.
4. More Delhaize supermarkets in Brussels to open on Sundays
A rising number of Delhaize stores in Brussels are now also open on Sundays, largely as a bid to win back more customers following the franchising controversy. Read more.
5. Flemish minister scolded for campaigning in English, French, German and Arabic
One Flemish minister is campaigning for the elections in 2024 to be held in several other languages instead of only in Dutch – a move that has provoked criticism from Flemish nationalist parties. Read more.
6. The Belgian commute: Car still king, but record number cycling to work
Belgian commutes are becoming greener. While the majority of people still rely (partly) on a car for their commute, diesel is being phased out. A record number of people are also opting for cycling. Read more.
7. Hidden Belgium: The most beautiful publishing house in Europe
“Such an establishment has never been seen in the whole of Europe,“ wrote the Italian travel writer Ludovico Guicciardini in his description of the Plantin Moretus Publishing House in Antwerp. Read more.
