Refugee-run shelters in Brussels offer safety and integration support
Refugee-run shelters in Brussels offer safety and integration support
Who better to understand the needs of refugees than refugees themselves? In Brussels, refugee-led committees are part of the solution to the lack of reception in Belgium with shelters that provide housing and integration support for asylum-seekers and refugees. With backing from the Brussels Capital Region and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, this initiative has transformed former office buildings into refugee-run reception centres, providing a safe haven for those fleeing the war in Ukraine and asylum-seekers left homeless on the streets.
The self-managed shelter programme
Refugee Committees in Brussels lead a self-managed shelter programme as part of the Brussels Capital Region’s approach to inclusion, where local authorities together with refugees shape decisions on access to housing, education, health services and work.
To help ease pressure on Brussels’ strained reception system, the Region has made available three spaces to the Ukrainian Voices Refugee Committee: two former office buildings and a container village. These facilities, now refurbished and located in quiet residential areas of the capital, provide nearly 500 beds to refugees fleeing Ukraine and asylum-seekers from around the world, offering a much-needed safe place for those with nowhere to go to.
“This initiative shows that cost-effective local solutions do exist. When given the opportunity, refugees find solutions for themselves and immediately give back to Belgian communities that have welcomed them,” says Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR’s Representative in Brussels.
Learn more about the refugee committees
After fleeing the war in Ukraine, Marina and her children found refuge at the Marie-Curie 2 shelter in Brussels, run by the Ukrainian Voices Refugee Committee.
At the 'Table de logement', partner organizations visit the Marie-Curie 2 shelter to assist Ukrainian refugees in finding housing.
Natalia and her Ukrainian Voices team manage the Marie-Curie 2 shelter, offering Ukrainian refugees basic necessities, integration support and a safe space to rebuild their lives.
Marina and her family are thankful for a place where they can cook and share meals together. Being with other Ukrainians helps them feel safe.
More than a roof overhead
This shelter programme goes beyond just providing a roof - it’s about building trust and support. The staff not only speak the same languages as the residents but have also lived through the refugee experience themselves.
For Munib, a young Syrian asylum-seeker, arriving at the Triomphe shelter after a month of homelessness was a huge relief:
“After the hardship I endured on the streets, it was really comforting to find support from Mme Mouna who is originally from Syria like me. Meeting someone who speaks the same language and who comes from the same situation helped me feel at ease,” he says.
Refugee Committees, supported by volunteers and partner organizations, help residents rebuild their lives. They offer psychosocial support, language classes in French, Dutch and English, and assistance with finding work and permanent housing.
“As Refugee Committees, we offer services we wish we had when we arrived in Belgium as refugees,” says Doris, a former Burundian refugee and manager of the Triomphe shelter. “We know the route to take so we can guide them through the path that we ourselves have taken in the past,” she adds.
The shelter programme also helps residents take steps toward becoming self-sufficient. This includes assistance with registering at employment offices, preparing CVs, and opening bank accounts. For the residents at the Triomphe shelter, Doris and her team help with an important first step: getting the orange card. This card is vital for asylum seekers as it allows them to work legally after a period of four months.
In the ‘Marie-Curie 2’ shelter for Ukrainian refugees, weekly 'Table de logement' sessions help residents navigate the challenges of finding affordable housing.
“We want our residents to find a place to live and integrate into the Belgian system. The programme helps them understand the legal and social systems of their new country so they can gradually become independent,” explains Natalia, a Ukrainian refugee managing the Marie-Curie 2 shelter.
A sense of hope and belonging
Refugees and asylum-seekers arriving in Brussels have endured unimaginable hardship and need immediate support, including access to adequate reception. Thanks to the Refugee Committees, support from the Brussels Capital Region, UNHCR, and the dedicated partner organizations and volunteers, these shelters offer more than safety: they build community and hope.
But as thousands of asylum-seekers continue to live on the streets, more action is needed to ensure no one is left behind—and the Refugee Committees stand ready to help.
“We're ready to receive and support more people,” says Doris. “We just need more places to accommodate them.”
Munib, from Syria, found safety at the Triomphe shelter after spending a month on the streets. There, he began recovering, started Dutch lessons and hopes to continue his engineering studies soon.
Doris, former Burundian refugee and now manager of the Triomphe shelter, stands in front of the former office building now hosting asylum-seekers left homeless on the streets.
Santa, Doris and Mouna now manage the Triomphe shelter, offering asylum-seekers a safe place to sleep and services to integrate in their new community.
Mouna, Doris and Santa help single male asylum-seekers who have just arrived at the Triomphe shelter. They run the shelter, offering guidance and explaining the rules to ensure a safe environment for all residents.
Find out more about the Refugee Committees in Brussels: