Brussels Region: The Next Government
Must Prioritize Social Housing

The state of social housing in Brussels is no secret: too few homes, long waiting lists, dilapidated buildings, overcrowding in some units, and vacancies in others. As the region announces drastic budget cuts to stabilize its finances, we—a coalition of organizations advocating for access to affordable housing for all—are deeply concerned about the future of social housing. As the only reliable guarantee of housing access for everyone, social housing must not be neglected but funded in line with the immense need for decent, affordable homes faced by Brussels residents.

"Please visit her flat and see for yourself. Look at its condition. Every time she calls maintenance, they come and say, 'Madam, you're not ventilating properly.'" Meriyem, from the Union of Social Tenants, recently guided regional parliament members through social housing units managed by Logements Molenbeekoise,. Many tenants endure unhealthy and unsuitable living conditions: moldy walls, faulty heating systems, broken elevators—problems are abundant, but solutions are scarce. Instead, tenants are often blamed for the state of their homes.

Logements Molenbeekoise, one of Brussels’ largest public housing agencies, illustrates recurring challenges in social housing: 78% of its units are one- or two-bedroom apartments, while Molenbeek disproportionately houses large families compared to the regional average. Overcrowding worsens health issues, mental well-being, and educational performance. Unfortunately, this is not unique to Molenbeek. Across Brussels, the social housing stock is aging, and renovation has become a pressing concern for both residents and authorities.

The 2005 Regional Housing Plan and the 2013 Housing Alliance aimed to create 8,000 public housing units (including 6,400 social housing units). Yet by mid-2019, only 1,633 had been delivered. Progress has since accelerated, with 1,421 more units completed between mid-2019 and April 2024, and another 873 under construction. However, we remain far from meeting the goals. Meanwhile, the region’s financial constraints slow down negotiations and project funding. In June 2024, securing a €300 million loan for the Brussels Regional Housing Company (BGHM) was met with delays and political posturing from both the majority and the opposition.

In this challenging budgetary context, we urge the government to prioritize investments in social housing. As Frédéric Dufour, director of Molenbeekse Woningen, succinctly put it: "We inherited an extremely old housing stock. Over the next decade, we’ll need €300 million to renovate all our units, but so far, we've only received €70 million. Renovation is a matter of political will." For the entire region, renovating the social housing stock—while meeting ambitious energy goals—will require €8 billion.

Renovating social housing is not optional. Substandard living conditions are unacceptable in any context but are especially egregious in public housing. The public sector must lead by example, ensuring tenants live in safe, decent homes.

Efforts to create more social housing must not falter. Current budgets, unadjusted for inflation or rising land costs, will deliver just 6,700 of the planned 8,000 units. This is insufficient. We call for the current targets to be exceeded, with social housing stock expanded to meet the needs of tens of thousands of families.

Housing is a basic human right and a foundation for individual stability. Social housing serves the common good, providing a safety net insulated from market forces that discriminate and exploit tenants. It ensures fair rents tied to income, enabling families to allocate resources toward essentials like health, education, and community participation. Social housing also prevents gentrification, giving residents a stable foothold in their neighborhoods despite rising property prices.

Relying on the private sector to address the housing crisis is misguided; profit motives will never align with public need. Private developers must contribute through planning taxes and mandatory quotas for social housing in new projects. Public land should be reserved exclusively for social or public housing initiatives.

The housing crisis in Brussels reflects political choices, not market inevitability. It remains to be seen whether the incoming government will make decisions that benefit the majority of Brussels residents. The stakes are too high to delay.

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Signed by: Maison de quartier Bonnevie; La Rue asbl; La Fébul; Périféria; Rassemblement bruxellois pour le droit à l’habitat (RBDH); Union des locataires Marollienne (ULM); Union de Locataires d’Anderlecht-Cureghem (ULAC); Brussels Platform Armoede (BPA); Hart boven Hard Brussel Infirmiers de rue asbl; Centre de Rénovation Urbaine (CRU); Comité de la Samaritaine; Une Maison en Plus Inter-Environnement Bruxelles (IEB); Atelier de Recherche et d’Action Urbaines (ARAU); L’Ilot asbl; Communa; Wijkhuis Chambéry; BRAL; VZW Rizome-Bxl ASBL; SAAMO Brussel vzw; asbl DIOGENES vzw; La Fédération des Services Sociaux Union des Locataires de Schaerbeek (ULS); Fédération des maisons d’accueil et des services d’aide aux sans-abri (AMA); Réseau intersectoriel de prévention du sans-abrisme Bru4home (B4H); DoucheFLUX; Chez Nous Bij Ons asbl; Union des Locataires Quartier Nord (ULQN); asbl LHIVING vzw; Angela.d asbl; Buurtwinkel vzw