Thanks to its network of local entities located throughout Wallonia and Brussels, the Belgian Red Cross provides essential assistance to those who need it most, all year round.
During the winter period, this help is reinforced everywhere, “Even if we no longer talk about a ‘winter plan’ because our activities are really necessary all year round”Red Cross spokeswoman Nancy Feroni says:
The fate of homeless people, regardless of their origin, whether they are migrants or not, is of particular concern to the Belgian Red Cross teams. Between 2018 and 2021, the number of homeless people increased by 27% in Brussels alone.
In 2021, according to the latest censuses carried out under the auspices of the King Baudouin Foundation, there were: in Brussels 5,313 homeless people on the street, including more than 900 children, in Charleroi, 959 adults and 200 children, in Namur, 874 adults and 272 children, in Liège 422 adults and 78 children, and in Arlon 149 adults and 69 children
Measures intensified in the province of Luxembourg:
- Bouillon Soup Bar is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:30 am to 1 pm. It is located at du College Street, 31.
- The Bastogne soup bar is open on Mondays from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm and is located at rue des Jardins, 20. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the social restaurant is open at the same address.
- The Arlon Red Cross works closely with the Arlon Night Shelter – the only shelter for the entire county – to meet the clothing needs of the homeless, via its network of clothing stores.
- For children from poor families, Saint-Nicolas will distribute toys on November 30 in Arlon of the Red Cross.
Games and games are also collected and redistributed by the Bastogne Red Cross Association in cooperation with CPAS, while Bertrix Red Cross will distribute the games in the presence of Saint-Nicolas on December 3 at 10 am.