In March of this year (2026), Street Nurses purchased an office building in Anderlecht. The building still needs to be renovated, but Street Nurses’ offices will gradually move into it during 2027. Street Nurses does not hold full ownership of the building, but is a co-owner.

However, since 20 April, the building has been occupied by the Collectif des habitants des Cendres, which represents a group of 30 undocumented people – men, women and children.

Since then, Street Nurses and the Collective have been in talks, facilitated by BrussHelp, to reach an arrangement that both safeguards the organisation’s interests and enables humane accommodation for the people concerned.

In parallel with these talks, Street Nurses has also taken legal action to protect its directors and co-owners from liability.

On Friday 19 June, the Collective issued a statement on this matter, expressing its indignation at Street Nurses’ position. In response to that publication, Street Nurses would like to clarify its view of the situation below.

Contrary to what the Collective’s statement suggests, a process of dialogue and cooperation has indeed been initiated between them and Street Nurses since the first meeting.
These discussions are aimed at finding a framework within which a temporary occupation is possible, whilst respecting everyone’s circumstances and limitations.

We therefore regret that this public statement of the Collectif does not provide an accurate and complete picture of the collaborative dynamic that has developed over the past few weeks.
Incidentally, a further meeting between the parties is scheduled for next week.

Street Nurses remain committed to a respectful, serious and calm dialogue and intends to continue the discussions in this spirit.

Below, you can read how we view the current situation.

Current Situation on Juin 21, 2026

 

A Building Intended for Near-Term Use

Since 20 April, the building acquired by Infirmiers de rue in March 2026 in Anderlecht, intended to host the organisation’s future offices, has been occupied by the Collectif des habitants des Cendres.

It is important to clarify that this is an office building and not an abandoned property that has been left vacant for a long period. The building was still in use until the end of December 2025 and is currently the subject of a concrete redevelopment project. Renovation works are scheduled to begin in autumn 2026, enabling the gradual relocation of Infirmiers de rue’s teams during 2027. Temporary occupancy projects were also being explored in the meantime.

Maintaining Dialogue While Protecting the Organisation’s Interests

From the outset of the occupation, Infirmiers de rue chose to act on two complementary fronts.

On the one hand, the organisation took the necessary steps to safeguard its rights, responsibilities and interests as co-owner of the building. On the other hand, it entered into dialogue with the Collectif des habitants des Cendres in order to seek a solution that respects the people concerned.

With the support and mediation of Bruss’Help and Vivalis, regular discussions have taken place to identify the most appropriate ways of managing this complex situation.
The aim is to allow the people currently occupying the building a period of respite after several successive evictions, while at the same time preserving the integrity of the property and ensuring that Infirmiers de rue can continue to fulfil its mission.

The legal proceedings initiated by the organisation are part of this approach. Seeking an eviction order is not a choice between dialogue and legal protection. For Infirmiers de rue, both approaches are necessary in order to manage this exceptional situation responsibly.

A Situation That Highlights a Wider Problem

This situation reveals a particularly striking paradox: the future offices of an organisation that has been working for more than twenty years to end homelessness and promote the right to housing are now occupied by people who themselves have no access to adequate and sustainable accommodation.

For Infirmiers de rue, this reality primarily illustrates the persistent shortcomings of housing, reception and support policies for people experiencing extreme vulnerability or exile. It highlights the very real consequences of the lack of accessible solutions for those most in need.

Balancing Multiple Responsibilities

In this complex situation, Infirmiers de rue must balance several responsibilities:

  • The organisation is concerned about the safety of people staying in a building that was not designed for long-term residential use.
  • It remains fully committed to finding solutions for people experiencing homelessness and extreme vulnerability.
  • At the same time, it must ensure the continuity of its activities, manage its resources responsibly and comply with the legal obligations associated with its status as co-owner of the property.

It is also important to recall that Infirmiers de rue is a non-profit organisation carrying out a mission of public interest. It employs nearly seventy staff members, supports more than 200 highly vulnerable people experiencing homelessness each year, and is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors.
As a non-profit organisation, Infirmiers de rue neither has the means nor the mandate to assume responsibilities that normally fall within the remit of public authorities, particularly in relation to accommodation, safety and property management. Nor can it take significant risks that could jeopardise its mission, its activities or the liability of its volunteer board members.

Considering these challenges, Infirmiers de rue has chosen to seek support from external legal experts in order to strike an appropriate balance between pursuing its social mission, fulfilling its legal obligations and protecting the people concerned.

Discussions and consultations are continuing actively, with the aim of finding a solution that respects both the individuals concerned and the organisation’s mission and legal responsibilities.

The Need for Structural Solutions

Beyond this specific situation, Infirmiers de rue wishes to stress that such tensions should not exist. They are the direct consequence of the lack of structural solutions in the areas of housing, reception and support for the most vulnerable people.

At a time when reception capacities continue to shrink and both European and Belgian migration policies are becoming increasingly restrictive, Infirmiers de rue reiterates the need for ambitious and sustainable responses.

The organisation calls on the relevant authorities to assume their responsibilities by ensuring dignified reception conditions and effective access to housing — whether temporary or permanent — for everyone living on Belgian territory.

Our Commitment

Infirmiers de rue will continue to address this situation responsibly, in line with its values, its social mission and its commitment to respecting all those concerned. The organisation remains convinced that only structural solutions can prevent situations such as this from recurring in the future.
In any case, dialogue with the Collectif remains open.