The City of Brussels does not want to know about picking up homeless people during extremely cold nights, as Etterbeek does. This became apparent after a question from opposition member David Weytsman (MR).
In view of the cold wave and the low temperatures predicted for the coming nights, the mayor of Etterbeek, Vincent De Wolf (MR), has introduced a ban on sleeping outside. This is a “protection rule”, according to his cabinet, which applies between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. and automatically comes into effect on nights when it is colder than -5. At those times, the police may take “any homeless person, regardless of their consent” to emergency shelter.
“Compare it to a person who is on the rails, but doesn’t want to get off,” says De Wolf. The temperatures of the coming days and nights seriously increase the risk of hypothermia and death. Since Sunday evening, the OCMW of his municipality has set up an additional emergency shelter.
It is not the first time that the liberal mayor has come up with such a measure; he did it before in the winter of 2018. That was a first in Belgium at the time, and since then the Etterbeek police have (according to the mayor) forcibly removed someone from the street once: it was a person with psychiatric complaints.
Cities such as Liège, Namur and Charleroi are now also applying the measure. In Flanders, no municipality has a ban, according to the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG). In Brussels, Etterbeek is the only one for the time being, confirms the office of Minister Alain Maron (Ecolo).
For confused people
Yet the discussion is also taking place in other municipalities. For example, David Weytsman (MR) – a party member of De Wolf – asked a question about the subject in the city council of the City of Brussels on Monday evening. “It can be a useful measure for people who are confused,” he says.
But the board is on a different line. In Brussels City, Alderman for Housing and Equal Opportunities Lydia Mutyebele Ngoi (PS) does not want to know about a ban on sleeping outside. She prefers to give priority to guidance for people in need as long as there is not enough housing, she said in the last municipal council. “The real problem is the lack of housing,” adds mayor Philippe Close (PS).
Liberals stand alone
For now, the Liberals are alone. There is also no police warrant in Ixelles, where a homeless man in his forties died on january 9. The municipality has strengthened the day care center: it is now open every day and, in addition to soup and coffee, also offers warm clothing for people in need. For night shelter, the chief of staff refers to Samusocial and the Red Cross.
This article is originally published on bruzz.be
