Picturing homelessness is an exceptionally difficult exercise, as different as every individual and their stories so distressing that we rarely even try to imagine the people who live without the material security we tend to take for granted.
The are plenty of rough sleepers in Brussels, they're a common sight in the city's busy centre for whom we hardly spare a second thought. It's not until it gets uncomfortably cold that the idea of spending time outside might make us think about those who have no choice.
But how many people are homeless in Europe's capital? Is their number growing? Where do they come from?
All are pertinent questions that are extremely hard to answer. On Wednesday the biggest homeless census took place, mobilising 400 volunteers to scan the city's 62 square kilometres. The biennial effort goes some way in providing data that the Brussels region will use for designing policy, though precision is impossible.
In 2022 over 7,000 homeless people were counted; this year is expected to exceed 10,000. But besides people sleeping on streets (the census is carried out at night) there are many more who are technically homeless but find temporary "solutions", like sleeping on a sofa. And whilst local communes have detailed profiles of their registered residents, Brussels has thousands of people who aren't on the system and whose specifics, and existence, are unknown.
An almost tireless team of volunteers are active year-round to address the problem, a vital point of contact for the most vulnerable. But like those they try so hard to care for, volunteers are only human. And in March the homeless sector in Brussels went on strike to highlight the scale of the problem and need for greater governmental support.
But with regional finances in poor health and government negotiations at standstill, the problem will likely get worse.
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1. ‘Tip of the iceberg’: Brussels’ biggest homeless count estimates over 10,000 people
"The census is a snapshot of a phenomenon at a moment in time, and we need a strong team to make it happen." Read more.
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The courthouse's front façade alone is the equivalent of almost five football pitches in size, leading to a very ardeous and complex construction site. Read more.
3. What to do in Brussels this weekend: 8 – 10 November
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4. Bouchez furious as radical-left adversaries PTB join governing coalition in his hometown
The socialist mayor of Mons explained that he and Bouchez had "major differences of opinion". But Bouchez was indignant, calling it a "shameful coalition". Read more.
5. Tesla’s infamous Cybertruck not allowed on Flemish roads
At almost 6 metres long, with its sharp corners and weighing over three tonnes, the Cybertruck fails to meet many European safety standards. Read more.
6. Three people dead in Anderlecht house fire
"Two victims were found on the landing of the first floor and a third near the entrance to a flat on the third floor... the stairwell was completely engulfed in smoke and flames." Read more.
7. De Croo on Trump victory: ‘Europe is already much stronger on its own’
"Today, more than half of the military support to Ukraine is coming from European countries." Read more.
