Brussels Community Groups Still Await 2026 Subsidies Amid Funding Crisis

More than six months after the Brussels Parliament voted provisional credits to fund community organizations through early 2026, dozens of grassroots associations say they have still not received a single euro — pushing services for over 100,000 vulnerable residents to a breaking point. The funding was discussed at the Brussels Council of Ministers on July 9, but no resolution has been announced, according to RTBF.

Background: 613 Days Without a Government

The crisis stems from an unprecedented political deadlock in the Brussels-Capital Region. Following the June 2024 regional elections, it took 613 days to form a government — the longest in the region’s history. During this period, a caretaker administration with limited powers was unable to approve new budgets or programs, paralyzing the renewal of the Plan Global de Sécurité et de Prévention (PGSP), the multi-year funding framework managed by Safe.Brussels.

The previous PGSP, which covered 2021–2024, expired without a replacement. A new plan for 2025–2030 has yet to be adopted. In the absence of a full budget, the Brussels Parliament voted provisional credits (“douzièmes provisoires”) on December 18, 2025, to cover the first quarter of 2026. However, as RTBF reported, those funds were never disbursed.

Associations at a Breaking Point

Between 38 and 40 associations working in security and prevention are affected. They serve people facing addiction, homelessness, sexual and gender-based violence, human trafficking, and radicalization. Approximately 75 jobs depend directly on these subsidies.

“We cannot continue like this until the end of the year. We absolutely need a response from the government regarding our funding,” said Noémie Bourdon, coordinator of the Brussels Support Centre and the Stop it Now project, a helpline for people experiencing sexual attraction to minors who seek help before acting. The service, which receives about 100 calls annually, has been operating on its own reserves for six months while awaiting €70,000 in regional subsidies.

Catherine Van Huyck, director of Modus Vivendi, a harm reduction organization for drug users, painted an even starker picture. Her group buys syringes for all Brussels outreach points with its PGSP subsidy. “Tomorrow, no more syringes. What do we do? We’re walking on our heads, basically,” she told RTBF in May.

Fabienne Richard, director of GAMS Belgique (Group for the Abolition of Female Genital Mutilation), warned of the long-term costs of inaction. “One euro invested in prevention saves fourteen euros later. By delaying these funds, we risk generating much greater costs in the long term,” she said.

Political Response and Uncertainty

Minister-President Boris Dilliès (MR) has stated that the overall envelope for the Security and Prevention Plan will be maintained, but that distribution modalities will evolve. “Security is one of this government’s priorities, particularly in the current context marked by increased violence linked to drug trafficking and organized crime,” he said in a written statement. However, the associations, through the FEDABXL federation, say they have received no payment schedule despite months of letters, meeting requests, parliamentary questions, and public demonstrations.

Ahmed Laaouej (PS), Brussels Minister of Social Action, acknowledged the many competing needs across housing, social-health, cultural, and educational sectors but insisted the government is “not pursuing an austerity policy.” The associations, however, note that 2025 subsidies were already cut by 15%, and that non-indexation of subsidies and the progressive elimination of first-job agreements for ASBLs have further strained their finances.

Broader Implications

The situation raises serious questions about democratic governance in Brussels. The fact that Parliament voted credits that were never disbursed undermines confidence in the separation of powers and the reliability of government commitments. The 29 signatory organizations, as listed in the FEDABXL press release, estimate they have reached “a breaking point” after drawing on their reserves and postponing expenses for months.

What’s Next

The Brussels Council of Ministers discussed the funding on July 9, but no decision has been announced. With the new PGSP still not adopted and no clear timeline for disbursement, the coming weeks will be critical. If funding is not released soon, services for over 100,000 of Brussels’ most vulnerable residents could be interrupted or stopped entirely — a crisis that, as Fabienne Richard warned, will ultimately cost the region far more than the subsidies themselves.

This article was based on reporting by RTBF, La Libre, and FEDABXL.