CloseThis event has ended. Please note that this event is intended for experts and practitioners. If you are interested in attending this conference online or in-person, please email emnibz [dot] be (emn[at]ibz[dot]be). migration policy | affordable housing Monday 15 December 2025, 12:00 - Tuesday 16 December 2025, 17:00 (CET) Practical information WhenMonday 15 December 2025, 12:00 - Tuesday 16 December 2025, 17:00 (CET)WhereBIP Meeting Center. Rue Royale 2-4. 1000 BrusselsLanguagesEnglish, French, DutchWebsiteEMN Belgium national conference: Beyond housing Description In Belgium and other EU Member States, a growing number of applicants for international protection are residing outside (collective) reception facilities. While some have no access to reception centres due to capacity constraints, others deliberately choose not to stay in state-provided accommodation. It is essential to understand who these individuals are, where they live, and how they access essential services. Such insights are crucial for developing appropriate and effective policies that are consistent with the legal framework. In this context, policymakers, reception authorities, civil society organisations, and international partners are exploring alternative models that could ease the pressure on existing reception systems while at the same time promoting the self-reliance of applicants. These discussions take place within the framework of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU), which requires Member States to ensure an adequate standard of living that guarantees the subsistence of applicants and protects their physical and mental health. This hybrid conference provides an important platform for exploring current issues related to alternatives to (collective) reception facilities. During the event, participants will map the opportunities and limitations of these alternatives and promote exchange between policy, practice, and research. The aim is to identify practical and innovative approaches that strengthen the self-reliance of applicants for international protection and contribute to flexible, future-proof reception systems that are better equipped to respond to both current and emerging challenges. Contacts General contact EMN Belgium This conference is organised by EMN Belgium, which includes staff members from the Federal Public Service Interior, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS), the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (Fedasil), the Immigration Office, and the Federal Migration Centre (Myria). NameEMN BelgiumWebsitehttps://emnbelgium.be/Emailemnibz [dot] be
In Belgium and other EU Member States, a growing number of applicants for international protection are residing outside (collective) reception facilities. While some have no access to reception centres due to capacity constraints, others deliberately choose not to stay in state-provided accommodation. It is essential to understand who these individuals are, where they live, and how they access essential services. Such insights are crucial for developing appropriate and effective policies that are consistent with the legal framework. In this context, policymakers, reception authorities, civil society organisations, and international partners are exploring alternative models that could ease the pressure on existing reception systems while at the same time promoting the self-reliance of applicants. These discussions take place within the framework of the Reception Conditions Directive (2013/33/EU), which requires Member States to ensure an adequate standard of living that guarantees the subsistence of applicants and protects their physical and mental health. This hybrid conference provides an important platform for exploring current issues related to alternatives to (collective) reception facilities. During the event, participants will map the opportunities and limitations of these alternatives and promote exchange between policy, practice, and research. The aim is to identify practical and innovative approaches that strengthen the self-reliance of applicants for international protection and contribute to flexible, future-proof reception systems that are better equipped to respond to both current and emerging challenges.
