Living in the city center: by whom? for whom?

This discussion reflects on the place of social housing and working-class neighbourhoods in the heart of Brussels, and on the profound transformations currently reshaping the city centre. We will start from two concrete cases: the five housing blocks on Rue du Rempart des Moines and the Beekkant towers.

Together with representatives of housing rights organisations and local residents, we will explore the evolution of social housing policies, the condition of the existing housing stock, and current living conditions. We will also critically examine the dynamics of neglect and displacement at play.

Testimonies and analyses will lead into a screening of the film “Le parti du rêve du logement”, which further engages with these issues.

SPEAKERS

Thyl Van Gyzegem – Inter-Environnement Brussels.

Kimfuta Godelieve: member of the group Alarm and resident of social housing in Molenbeek.

Ida Ballet: member of the group Alarm, of the ULS (Union of Social Tenants), and protagonist of Le Parti du rêve du logement. Resident of Molenbeek.

Lucie Mesuret: urban planner and director of the radio documentary Ceux qui restent.

Hajar Rahou: protagonist of Ceux qui restent, former social worker for social cohesion at Rampart des Moines, resident of the city center.

Mae de Monchy: affiliated with the Cosmopolis Research Center (VUB), with a focus on housing insecurity and forced displacement in Brussels.