Census of homeless people

What is it about?

In Belgium and throughout Europe, homelessness is a major social challenge. In June 2021, Belgium signed the Lisbon Declaration, committing to combat homelessness by 2030 through structural measures. The Declaration emphasizes that these measures should be based on reliable data to provide optimal support to policymakers.

That's why the King Baudouin Foundation has been engaged since 2020, in collaboration with research teams from the UCLouvain and LUCAS KULeuven, as well as over 100 local authorities, in the development of a standardized methodology for counting people experiencing homelessness an in Wallonia and Flanders. The Foundation aims to expand this methodology at the interfederal level to enable uniform and recurring counts throughout Belgium. The Netherlands has also shown interest in this approach; the same methodology was successfully tested there for the first time earlier this year.

Who are the individuals experiencing homelessness? What is their profile? What is the less visible aspect of this phenomenon? You will find a detailed analysis of these profile characteristics on the pages indicated below.

CENSUS 2023

On the night of October 19th to 20th, homeless counts will be conducted again in 56 cities/municipalities. The city of Antwerp is participating for the first time. In the Leuven region (including Leuven and 9 surrounding municipalities) and Gent, counts are taking place for the second time, thanks to co-financing from local authorities and the King Baudouin Foundation. This allows for the mapping of trends in homelessness. In Wallonia, counts are also taking place, thanks to a contribution from the Walloon government, in La Louvière, the Mons-Borinage district, and 31 municipalities in the Luxembourg province.

The results of these counts in the 56 municipalities and cities in Flanders and Wallonia will be announced in 2024.

CENSUS 2022

Discover here the results of the 2022 censuses in Boom-Mechelen-Lier, Arrondissement Brugge, Midwest, Middenkust, (zorg) regio Kempen, Waasland, Doornik, Waals Brabant and the Germanspeaking community.

CENSUS 2021

Discover here the results of the 2021 censuses in South-West Flanders, the BraViO frontline zone, and Charleroi and Liège.

CENSUS 2020

Discover here the results of the 2020 censuses in Limburg, Ghent, Arlon and Liège.