The Ghent OCMW will henceforth provide extra follow-up for tenants receiving a rental guarantee through them, aiming to prevent evictions. Each year, the goal is to reach about 100 households in a financially precarious situation in time. This involves contacting tenants again three months after their move to assess their living situation.
This approach is part of the fight against homelessness, with the prevention of evictions being central. Especially in the first months after moving into a new home, tenants can quickly face difficulties due to additional costs such as energy, moving, and furnishing. A small arrears can then rapidly escalate.
By deploying three additional employees, the OCMW aims to strengthen support for this vulnerable group. This initiative was already implemented in 2025, and by further reinforcing it, the OCMW hopes to prevent approximately 30 actual evictions annually.
Furthermore, the OCMW also focuses on individuals for whom an eviction procedure is already underway, to prevent forced departure through support. This project is part of the broader ROOF plan, the city-wide approach to homelessness that Ghent aims to end by 2040.
