Divorce has been reported as the major cause of homelessness in Brussels.
A guide from Bruksel Binnenste Buiten organisation, Mr Malte Woydt, disclosed this to African Journalists during a tour of the city on Monday .
The visit was part of activities organised by Taz Panter Foundation in Berlin for African journalists, for their workshop with theme: ” Access- Connecting in Times of the Pandemic”.
He said that cases of divorce settlement which required sharing of property had been recorded as the major cause of homelessness among Belgians.
According to him, many could not comply with it.
“There are about four to five thousand people homeless here.
“You have couple who put their two salaries together to finance a loan for a house, and if they separate, they do not have enough money to pay for two houses.
“People to get into financial trouble through divorce because many people have houses which cost them so much, and if they separate, they cannot finance them any more,” he said.
According to him, another group of homeless people in Brussels are the Gypsies from Eastern Europe, who stay for some weeks to accumulate finances and return when they achieve that .
He said that other homeless persons were refugees and migrants from East Europe and Northern Africa, and mid migrants stuck trying to get to Britain.
Tourist sites visited by the African Journalists include the Norwegian Chalet, Grand Palace and Old England Building. (NAN)
