As soon as a Ukrainian refugee in Flanders has an income from work or receives a living wage, he can be asked for a ‘fair compensation’ for housing in an accommodation that is offered by the government. The Flemish government has reached an agreement on this.
Ukrainian war refugees are immediately entitled to a protected status after registration. That status also includes the right to housing. Earlier this week, the Flemish government already indicated that a ‘fair compensation’ could be asked for that accommodation. The government has now reached an agreement that this rent can be charged from the moment a refugee receives a living wage or acquires an income from work.
The framework developed by Minister of Housing Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) is based on the calculation of the living wage. In concrete terms, this concerns a monthly income of 1,093 euros for a single person and 1,478.22 euros for a family. “We strive to demand fair compensation from the Ukrainian refugees. Fairness naturally implies affordability. The rent should therefore not impose an unreasonable burden on the income,” said Diependaele. “That is why we will base the rental amount to be paid on 40 percent of the living wage including rental costs (including electricity, water and gas), or 30 percent of the living wage without rental costs,” it sounds.
House versus room or bed
The reimbursement will depend on the family situation and the type of accommodation. Diependaele: “In order to determine the rent, we make a distinction between an independent house, a room or a bed. It is logical that a house with more comfort costs more than a room or bed in a collective shelter. , in the system of 40 percent including rental charges, pay 591 euros for an independent home, while a single person pays 164 euros for a room.”
The framework will apply to all types of housing offered by the social housing companies and social rental agencies. For the local authorities, the framework is “directive”. “Local authorities create many different types of reception places,” explains Minister of the Interior Bart Somers. “Think of reception places in hotel rooms, emergency housing, monasteries or container units. It is logical that the rent varies according to the type of accommodation and comfort and that the local government can determine the final rent.”
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