Although housing is an essential pillar in the fight against homelessness, it cannot be considered as the only one. It must be coupled with comprehensive support that is adapted to the diversity of the homeless public.

What types of support are possible and what needs to be put in place to ensure the sustainable reintegration of a homeless person? The third panel of the national conference, organised by Street Nurses on 14 October, will provide some answers.

Individualised support as a pillar in the fight against homelessness

Behind the homelessness figures, there is a diversity of profiles, needs and life trajectories that require individualised support, more or less intensive, from the street to housing. 

This comprehensive support is a crucial step in the sustainable reintegration of homeless people into society, as housing alone is not always the whole solution. 

How to ensure the sustainable reintegration of homeless people?

By signing the Lisbon Declaration, Belgium has set itself the objective, together with other Member States of the European Union, to define targeted policies to end homelessness by 2030.

At the national conference “From Dream to Reality, Ending Homelessness in Belgium”, a series of panelists will address four key pillars of a comprehensive plan to end homelessness: data, housing, support, and prevention.

The third panel will discuss what kind of support is possible and what needs to be put in place to ensure the sustainable reintegration of the homeless public. 

Panelists

This panel will be made up of representatives of Belgian organisations that provide comprehensive support for homeless people: 

• Coralie Buxant, Director, Les Trois Portes (Namur)

The non-profit organisation Les Trois Portes develops sustainable autonomy and integration missions via a crèche, reception houses, a community living centre and housing support teams.

• Adriana Costa Santos, co-president of BXLRefugees and doctoral student at Saint Louis University.

BXLRefugees provides an unconditional welcome, a response to requests for information, training and assistance to exiled, migrant, asylum-seeking, newly arrived and undocumented persons in order to aim at their integration into society. At the same time, Adriana is conducting a doctoral research on public action in the network of care for migrants in transit in the Brussels Region.

• Isabella Reati, Project Manager, Affiliation project

Affiliation is a social reaffiliation project for the beneficiaries of the five Housing First teams in Brussels to address issues of loneliness and inclusion.

• Peter-Jan Heylenbosch, housing coach, Ghent OCMW 

The Ghent OCMW works, within its housing support service, in particular according to the principles of Housing First, based on the accelerated allocation of social housing for homeless people. Peter also provides Outreach and Housing First training.

• Dr. Charles-Antoine Sibille, psychiatrist, Mobile Team of Network 107 Brussels East

The mobile team of the Network 107 promotes the care of homeless and badly housed people with mental health problems in their living environment.

The discussions will be preceded by a testimony on the accompaniment of homeless people by Filip Keymeulen, street worker at Diogènes. 

Information and registration

• Location: Royal Flemish Theatre (KVS)
• Address: 146 Rue de Laeken, 1000 Brussels
• Times: from 8.30 am to 6 pm
• Price :
  •  35 € + administrative costs (in person) – SOLD OUT 
  •  10 € + administrative costs (online) – STILL AVAILABLE! 

• Reservation: https://www.eventbrite.be/e/billets-conference-sur-la-fin-du-sans-abrisme-en-belgique-396569198147