By 2042, up to 56,000 additional social housing units will be built across Flanders, the Flemish government decided on Friday. “We are facing a massive housing crisis,” says Hans Bonte, the Flemish Housing Minister (Flemish socialist Vooruit). “Purchase and rental prices are rising year on year, and more and more families are having to rely on social housing.”
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56,000 new social housing units by 2042: Flanders's new ambitious aim
Colin Clapson
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As a result, the waiting list has grown to include 215,337 households. “Building social housing on a massive scale is our top priority. It is important that every municipality does its bit and that we provide municipalities with sufficient support. Because whether you live in Aalter or Zaventem, everyone has the right to an affordable home,” Bonte emphasises.
45,000 homes have been allocated to the 285 municipalities across Flanders. In addition, an extra budget has been set aside for 11,000 social housing units which municipalities can opt into voluntarily. Ghent and Antwerp have already indicated that they wish to make use of this option. "Furthermore, municipalities that have fallen behind in the past are being encouraged to catch up," says Bonte.
To build and renovate these additional homes, the Flemish government is allocating a budget of more than 1 billion euros per year during this parliament. To speed up the pace of construction, housing associations can count on favourable loans. For instance, the Flemish government has reduced the interest rate from -1 per cent to -2 per cent. “This makes the investment a fifth cheaper for housing associations,” says Bonte.
If local authorities refuse to cooperate, they face sanctions. “Those authorities will have to pay a contribution into the housing benefit system,” explains the minister. “People who have been on that waiting list for far too long are entitled to a subsidy like that. To fund this, a contribution will be sought from local authorities that do not cooperate.” Their contribution could amount to 4,000 euros per year.
Private housing market has role to play too
Even if 56,000 additional social housing units are actually added by 2042, a housing crisis will still reign. More than 200,000 people are already waiting for social housing.
The situation is not getting any easier, says the minister. The population is growing and more and more people are living alone. It seems that social housing alone cannot meet this growing need for flats and houses.
"We can’t expect social housing to be the sole solution. We must also look to the private housing market,’ Bonte makes clear. ‘Discussions are ongoing there too."