6 February 2025
Due to the severe cold at the beginning of the year, 150 additional accommodation spots have been opened in Brussels starting from January 7th, for a duration to be determined based on weather conditions. Protection UNIT, a leader in securing and providing assistance in the social welfare sector, was called in as a last-minute reinforcement. The contract, initially set for one month, has been extended until February 28th to address ongoing needs on the ground.
This is one of our strengths: we have so many specialized agents across different sectors that we can deploy teams within hours, even for contracts requested on very tight deadlines.
This was the case for the emergency accommodation set up by the Red Cross as part of the “Extreme Cold” plan, activated by the Brussels regional government, with support from the federal government, Vivalis, and the Brussels Public Service.
Several day shelters and accommodation centers have already been open during the winter, but the extreme weather conditions have forced many people to seek refuge there, and these centers were no longer sufficient. It’s important to note that around 7,000 people are homeless in our capital.
In this additional building opened on Rue de Linthout at the beginning of January, the people being sheltered receive three meals a day as well as the essentials for personal hygiene. Protection UNIT initially deployed six experienced agents to ensure a 24/7 presence on site. Since Monday, February 3rd, additional reinforcement was requested, bringing the number of agents on-site to two per shift to ensure even more effective security and support.
“These are very welcoming, empathetic agents, able to manage stress and conflict situations,” explains Jonathan Martucci, Event & Application Manager. “They primarily handle reception, manage arrivals, ensure that no dangerous items enter the site… But they also conduct preventive patrols. The individuals being sheltered are dealing with severe issues and are in stressful situations, and our agents are there to calm, guide, and reassure them.” This is yet another type of mission in which Protection UNIT has become a specialist.