Anyone with a modest income and waiting for social housing or who is evicted due to circumstances can count on a rent subsidy in Flanders.
In 2016, the average amount was 145.15 euros. In 2020 that was already 172.26 euros. The average amount of an installation bonus, which is awarded to homeless people who have found a home, increased from EUR 443.96 to EUR 532.82 in the same period.
The number of applications was relatively stable, but there was an outlier in 2019. According to the minister, there is no backlog in the processing of rental subsidies applied for: the processing time for files is 18 days on average.
Warnez is concerned about the declining number of applications in 2020. “It is worrying that despite rising rents, the number of applications for housing benefit is falling. “I call on Flanders to work together with the social houses and to make the offer more widely known. Quality living is of great importance for mental and physical health.”