Approximately 200 people marched through the streets of Namur on Saturday calling for housing rights as part of the European “Housing Actions Day”.
The protest was organised by local and Walloon associations with the Walloon Network for the Fight Against Poverty (RWLP), the Walloon Rally for the Right to Housing (RWDH), the collective La Casserole among the supporters.
According to the organisers, the issue of affordable, decent housing in Namur is critical. They expressed concerns about gentrification, with new expensive neighbourhoods being built while others are neglected, leading to resident displacement.
They also highlighted the large number of homes that are vacant or unfit for living in, despite increasing homelessness. This forces people to accept housing that is detrimental to their health.
In addition, the partners seek an increase in public housing and access to affordable, quality accommodation for everyone. They are calling for rent caps, guaranteed housing access, regulation of multiple property ownership, abolishing cohabitant status, and the implementation of social rights. They argue that empty housing must be repurposed and campaign for renovating unfit homes without this leading to rent increases.
Beyond housing access issues, the protesters also called for better community living in neighbourhoods and buildings, emphasising the need for more community spaces.
