The N-VA wants to open the Heysel Palaces to the homeless during the freezing cold

Every year, the Brussels government is surprised that temperatures can drop to freezing or below in winter and has to come up with emergency solutions, such as temporary shelter in the Brussels South railway station, which are not sufficient to accommodate every homeless person. Brussels MP Gilles Verstraeten says it is necessary and only right for the most vulnerable to be given shelter during extremely cold periods. “But safety in the station must remain ensured. The question is also how we should reconcile this decision with the major announcements made a few months ago about prioritising tackling safety in and around Brussels South Station.” Verstraeten proposes opening up the Heysel Palaces.

Verstraeten: “Every year, the emergency shelter system is completely oversaturated as soon as it gets cold. That is appalling, because ever increasing amounts of money flow into it. Too little is invested in the necessary assistance and structural solutions. But nothing substantial will change either if the migration knot is not resolved. The Brussels government must do what is necessary to make a comprehensive asylum and migration policy possible. After years of denial, Minister Maron has finally had to realise and acknowledge that the problem of homelessness is linked to migration. For example, he says that 70% of the people in Samusocial centres are transmigrants. That is untenable.”

Alcohol and drug use

Precisely because there are not enough emergency shelters, it was decided to temporarily open the Brussels South Station at night, despite the problems of recent months. The metro stations also have a tolerance policy and allow homeless people in when it is freezing. “A separate (open) space will be provided in Brussels South Station under the supervision of Securail employees. It is important that safety is ensured. We know that alcohol and drug use among the homeless has increased in recent years,” says Verstraeten.

Heysel Palaces

According to Verstraeten, there are better places than Brussels South Station and the metro stations to give shelter to homeless people during the winter cold: “Why aren’t additional shelters opened in the Heysel Palaces? There is enough space; the buildings are operated by Brussels Expo, a vehicle of PS Brussels City; they are empty much of the time, and if the largest vaccination centre in the country could be opened there, then some additional emergency shelter would also be possible. This will spare passengers and local residents around metro stations and railway stations who have already had more than enough inconvenience and problems to endure in recent years.”