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I need help

How can I get a place in a BelRefugees shelter in Brussels ?

You can regis­ter on the wai­ting list at the recep­tion desk of the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub (Ave­nue du Port 100, 1000 Brus­sels), where you will be gui­ded by one of our teams or part­ners. Regis­tra­tions for emer­gen­cy shel­ters take place on Mon­days, Tues­days, Thurs­days and Fridays.

Recep­tion, gui­dance and sup­port ser­vices for single women see­king shel­ter are pro­vi­ded through a dedi­ca­ted desk. These take place on Mon­day, Tues­day, Thurs­day and Fri­day from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm, also at the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub.

How long can I stay in a center ?

The stan­dard length of stay in an emer­gen­cy shel­ter for single men is 28 days. It dif­fers for cen­ters hos­ting single women and unac­com­pa­nied forei­gn minors.

What are the conditions to access emergency shelter ?

Bel­Re­fu­gees prac­tices uncon­di­tio­nal wel­come. Anyone who has no hou­sing solu­tion can regis­ter to access the shel­ters. Please expect a wai­ting per­iod bet­ween regis­tra­tion and actual entry into a shel­ter. This varies depen­ding on the num­ber of requests we receive.

Are the centers accessible for people with disabilities ?

We do eve­ry­thing we can to wel­come eve­ryone in opti­mal condi­tions. Some cen­ters have adap­ted rooms, but please men­tion your spe­ci­fic needs when you register.

Are there shelters reserved for women or minors ?

Yes, the Sis­ter’s House is a women-only cen­ter that wel­comes single women. The Amran Cen­ter hosts unac­com­pa­nied forei­gn minors. Sis­ter’s House does not cur­rent­ly accom­mo­date children.


How does admission to a center work ?

After regis­te­ring on our list, you will be contac­ted by phone when a place becomes avai­lable. Upon your arri­val at the cen­ter, you will be wel­co­med, infor­med about the house rules, and sup­por­ted with your settlement.

If you don’t have a phone num­ber — or no lon­ger have one — you can check your posi­tion on the wai­ting list by mee­ting the team at the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub during regis­tra­tion hours.

Is there a waiting list ? How long will I have to wait ?

Yes, due to high demand. The wai­ting time depends on the avai­la­bi­li­ty of places. Excep­tio­nal prio­ri­ties may be set, only via the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub.

How will I know if I’ve been given a place ?

You will be contac­ted by phone by our team. Please keep your num­ber rea­chable. If your num­ber changes, inform the rele­vant team prompt­ly by coming during regis­tra­tion hours.


Can I speak with a social worker or a legal advisor ?

Yes. Social and legal drop-ins are regu­lar­ly orga­ni­zed in the cen­ters or at the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub to ans­wer your ques­tions and sup­port you with your procedures.

Can I get help with my asylum application procedure ?

Yes. We can inform you about your rights and direct you to spe­cia­li­zed ser­vices, or help you pre­pare cer­tain documents.

Are there people to help me translate or understand ?

Yes. Inter­pre­ters are avai­lable to help you unders­tand impor­tant infor­ma­tion. Trans­la­tions are avai­lable in seve­ral lan­guages (Ara­bic, Tigri­nya, English, etc.).

What services are available for my physical or mental health ?

Nurses are avai­lable for first-line care. We work with Doc­tors of the World and Méde­cins Sans Fron­tières. If neces­sa­ry, we will accom­pa­ny you to a hos­pi­tal or a com­mu­ni­ty health center.

Can I take classes or training ?

Yes. In some cen­ters, French, English or com­pu­ter classes are offe­red. You can also enroll at Maxi­mi­lien School or School Without Bor­ders.

Can I receive clothing or hygiene products ?

Yes. Dis­tri­bu­tions of clo­thing, shoes, blan­kets and hygiene pro­ducts are orga­ni­zed regularly :

  • in Brus­sels : at the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub (Ave­nue du Port 100, 1000 Brus­sels) on Mon­day, Tues­day and Fri­day. This is a ticke­ted ser­vice. You can col­lect a ticket on the same day from 10:00 am.
  • in Lou­vain-la-Neuve : at the Ves­tiaire Soli­daire (120b, rue de la Baraque, Lou­vain-la-Neuve). Acces­sible on Fri­day, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

How can I contact BelRefugees ?

You can go direct­ly to the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub. In case of urgent need, the cen­ters have an inter­nal emer­gen­cy number.

What should I do if I am on the street and don’t know where to go ?

Go to the Huma­ni­ta­rian Hub as soon as pos­sible to report your situa­tion. For emer­gen­cy accom­mo­da­tion, you can also contact Samu­so­cial by phone or through their mobile app.