The assessment made by the Flemish Greens is unequivocal: of the €2 billion available for 2025 (including carryovers from the previous year), more than a quarter of a billion has simply vanished. Only €742 million has actually been invested, leaving €258 million permanently lost to the sector.
A carbon copy of N-VA policy?
For Groen co-president Nadia Naji, there is no difference between the current Minister Vooruit and her N-VA predecessor, Matthias Diependaele. Despite announcements of record budgets, the supply is not taking off:
- Chronic underutilization: Funds are being reallocated to other areas due to a lack of launched projects.
- Priority given to renovation: While renovation is essential, the MP points out that this is being done at the expense of new housing construction.
- Social consequences: This lack of ambition has resulted in increased pressure on the private market, impoverishing the most vulnerable households.
Groen’s solutions: towards a social obligation
Faced with the urgency of the situation, the Greens are not content with simply criticizing but are proposing concrete measures to break the deadlock:
- Reintroduce a social standard: Require every property developer to reserve a portion of their projects for social housing.
- Double the current supply: Increase the number of housing units from the current 178,000 to a much more ambitious target than the 50,000 units planned by the government by 2042.
- Accelerate support: Allow families on waiting lists to access housing allowances after two years of waiting, instead of the current four.
“Waiting lists are a death sentence,” concludes Nadia Naji, calling on the Flemish government to translate its budget promises into concrete action.
