Turnhout ends refugee housing program, redirects funds to local homelessness prevention

The Belgian city of Turnhout will terminate leases on six studios and a family home used for voluntary refugee accommodation, citing that refugees often fail to find permanent housing within the four-month limit and subsequently burden the OCMW homeless shelter. The city will redirect the freed funds to prevent homelessness among its own residents, while maintaining the emergency shelter. This marks a local policy shift in refugee support, reflecting broader municipal pressures in Belgium.