Social AffairsPolitics
Brussels Reception Crisis: 700 More Places Cut Under Deal
Belgium's asylum minister cuts 700 more Brussels Deal reception places, halving capacity to 1,000 amid fierce criticism from regional officials.
—4 min read
Category
Social Affairs
24 articles
Social Affairs
Bisous Groetjes: Postcard Campaign Fights Elderly Loneliness
Bisous Groetjes, a bilingual Belgian initiative, sends hand-written postcards to isolated seniors in Brussels to combat summer loneliness.
—4 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Brussels MENA Center Closes as Minor Disappearances Rise
A Brussels reception center for unaccompanied foreign minors closes amid a 14% rise in worrying disappearances, sparking outrage.
—4 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Belgium Reform: 40.8% of Excluded Turn to Social Welfare
RTBF map reveals 40.8% of Belgians excluded from unemployment benefits turned to CPAS welfare centers, exceeding government forecasts.
—5 min read
Social Affairs
Girl With Diabetes Barred From Diksmuide Summer Playground
An 8-year-old with Type 1 diabetes was refused a Diksmuide summer playground, sparking debate on inclusion for children with medical conditions.
—4 min read
PoliticsSocial Affairs
Belgium Allows CPAS to Hire Detectives to Fight Social Fraud
Belgian CPAS can now hire private detectives to investigate social fraud, targeting beneficiaries suspected of hiding foreign assets.
—4 min read
PoliticsSocial Affairs
Not a Lack of Money: Advocate Slams Belgian Social Cuts
Christine Mahy argues Belgian social spending cuts are political choices, not fiscal necessity, as the CPAS marks 50 years.
—4 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Heatwave Fury: Belgian Advocate Warns 'We Will Count Dead'
Belgian anti-poverty advocate Christine Mahy blasts political 'carelessness' as a 12-day heatwave overwhelms emergency services.
—4 min read
Social AffairsWeather
Belgian Scouts Adapt Camps as Heatwave Threatens Safety
As Belgium faces a new heatwave, scout leaders adapt summer camps with modified schedules, hydration protocols, and fire safety measures.
—4 min read
Social AffairsHuman Rights
Illegally Adopted Koreans Demand Apology from Belgian State
A dozen South Koreans illegally adopted by Belgian families demand an official apology for being 'bought from a catalog' in a systematic fraud scheme.
—5 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Ostend Unrest: Mayor Rejects Simplistic 'Brussels Label'
Ostend Mayor John Crombez challenges claims that youth disturbances are caused by outsiders from Brussels, citing complex socio-economic factors.
—5 min read
PoliticsSocial Affairs
Foyer Anderlechtois Manager Denies Political Interference
The allocation manager of Foyer Anderlechtois testified she never assigned housing on political orders, contradicting scandal allegations.
—4 min read
HealthSocial Affairs
Belgium Unveils Action Plan to Support Informal Caregivers
Belgian Health Minister Vandenbroucke launches a four-pillar action plan to support informal caregivers with simpler admin, flexible leave and recognition.
—4 min read
RoyaltySocial Affairs
King Philippe Visits Overcrowded Antwerp Prison
King Philippe of Belgium visited Antwerp prison to meet inmates and hear about overcrowding conditions firsthand, highlighting a national crisis.
—4 min read
Local GovernmentSocial Affairs
Audit Exposes Systemic Fraud at Saint-Josse Housing Agency
A damning audit finds 86% of social housing allocations at Saint-Josse were fraudulent, with employees favoring friends and family for nearly two decades.
—4 min read
Social Affairs
Antwerp OCMW Pilots Group Sessions for 3,200 Welfare Seekers
Over 3,200 Antwerp residents applied for welfare after Belgium limited unemployment benefits. The OCMW is piloting group sessions to manage the influx.
—4 min read
PoliticsSocial Affairs
Belgium Proposes Extending Abortion Term to 14 Weeks
Belgian Justice Minister Verlinden proposes extending the abortion limit from 12 to 14 weeks, with a rape exception at 18 weeks, reigniting debate.
—4 min read
Social AffairsPolitics
Flanders to Raise Social Housing Rents for Work Refusers
Flanders will impose stricter social housing rules from 2028, raising rents for tenants who can work but refuse and requiring higher Dutch proficiency.
—5 min read
Social AffairsFamily
Belgium Unveils €14M Package to Boost Childminder Sector
Flemish minister Caroline Gennez announces €14M in annual funding for childminders, including wage hikes and renovation premiums, to reverse decline.
—4 min read
BelgiumSocial Affairs
Record Disability Support, But 18,000 Still on Waiting List
Belgium's VAPH supported a record 107,439 people with disabilities in 2025, yet nearly 18,000 remain on waiting lists for personal budgets.
—4 min read
BelgiumSocial Affairs
Brussels Salvation Army Shelter to Close After 50 Years
The Salvation Army shelter on Rue Bodeghem in Brussels will close by end of June, displacing 34 residents and 8 staff due to a funding gap of €650,000.
—4 min read
JusticeSocial Affairs
When Justice Arrives Late: Belgium's Family Violence Plight
A Belgian court case reveals the painful gap between a slow justice system and families who have reconciled, raising profound questions about punishment.
—4 min read
PoliticsSocial Affairs
Anderlecht Housing Chief Seeks Brussels Parliament Hearing
Lotfi Mostefa, president of Anderlechtse Haard, requests parliamentary hearing after Pano investigation exposed alleged clientelism in housing allocations.
—4 min read
Social Affairs
15,000 Long-Term Sick Belgians on Benefits Live Abroad
Nearly 15,000 long-term sick Belgians receiving benefits live abroad, raising questions about oversight, healthcare, and social security sustainability.
—4 min read