Where are you sleeping tonight?
I just want to sleep...
The cold cuts through the worn-out coats of Eddy and Elias. They are pressed against a wall, huddled away from the wind.
Eddy looks at the empty square. 'Shall we try the apartment building's bike shed again tonight?'
'After they caught us yesterday and called the police? What do you think?' Elias sighs.
'But they're forecasting frost.'
'Then the night shelter is our only chance.'
Elias snorts. 'Obviously. Twenty-two beds and everyone wants to sleep inside.'
'We can at least try, right?'
'Then you have to call,' says Elias. 'Exactly at half past eleven. Not earlier and not later. After that, you end up in a queue. Whatever happens, stay on the line. If you hang up, you lose your spot. And if you get someone on the line, you have to give your details. Then you have to call again for me, because you can only register one person at a time.'
'I just want to sleep inside. I don't need a ticket for a U2 concert,' mutters Eddy. Elias crawls deep into his coat. 'I'd trade a concert ticket for a warm bed for the night in a heartbeat.'
Eddy places the phone between them on the ground. The clock ticks over to 11:28. In the distance, sirens wail. The two huddle against the wall until the sound slowly fades away.
'Shit! We're too late. It's 11:31.' Eddy curses and hastily dials the number. He bites his lip. 'I'm in the queue.'
Elias gives a thumbs up. The minutes crawl by. Neither of them says anything. Elias pulls his knees to his chest and looks at the gray sky. The temperature seems to drop by the minute.
'Full.'
'But you do have two tickets for the concert, right?' Elias tries jokingly.
Eddy doesn't answer immediately. Eventually, he shrugs. 'Do you think we could try that passageway under the bike tunnel?'
What would you think if you saw these two people sitting under a bicycle tunnel, without knowing their story?
What certainties do you have in your life? Which ones would you find hard to miss?
Where can you go if you suddenly can no longer stay at home? For how long could you stay there?
Wat betekent thuis voor jou?
Do you ever stop to think about this?
Did you know?
Homelessness is about more than just sleeping on the street. Many people stay temporarily with friends or family, in shelters, or in places not intended for living.
In the Westhoek region, 688 homeless people were counted in 2024, including 193 children.
Source: Homelessness – DVV Westhoek
Want to know more?
More than 21,000 people, including more than 6,000 children, are homeless or living in precarious housing in Flanders.
The Support Centre for Poverty Reduction collects figures, research, and stories about this issue:
Counts & figures on homelessness
In the Westhoek region, DVV Westhoek, in collaboration with many partners, takes a leading role in combating homelessness in the Westhoek. In 2024, the 17 Westhoek municipalities organized the homeless count, and in 2026, a pilot project for Winter Shelter Westhoek started. Work is underway on an action plan to combat homelessness in the Westhoek. More information about the regional approach can be found here.
In 2021, Welzijnszorg, together with various partners, conducted a campaign for the right to housing. ‘Housing: a favor and not a right? Unacceptable!’ The campaign dossier can be found here.
For more background and stories, you can visit Sociaal.Net.
Woonzaak is a broad citizens' movement of organizations and engaged citizens that draws attention to the housing crisis and the right to housing. They inform, raise awareness, and gather support for a fair housing policy.