Kortrijk: “Better buddy family than private shelter for refugees”

Kortrijk estimates that about 300 Ukrainian refugees will end up in their city. In order to steer this in the right direction, the city is drawing up a plan with seven starting points.

“The problem is in the news everywhere, but a solution is more difficult to formulate. With this plan, Kortrijk wants to take a first step towards structured reception,” says Mayor Vandenberghe. In addition, the city is appealing to residents to cooperate as a buddy family.

Wanted: buddy family

“Instead of taking care of people in their own home, we think it would be better to show people around Kortrijk”, says alderman of Social Progress Philippe De Coene.

It seven point plan looks like this:

1. Permanent information

2. Reception through local government

3. Only collective care and in homes under own direction

4. Kortrijk buddy system

5. Social support for the refugees

6. Activation and Employment

7. First 40 families are welcome

Kortrijk is making a budget of approximately 165,000 euros available for this to be able to organize the first reception.