Volunteer | PATHS

How it works

As a volunteer, you will help our NGO partners to find the right homes for refugees.

1
Register with Us

Sign up via the registration form and choose your region.
2
NGO will contact you

You will be contacted for an introductory meeting by an NGO in your area.
3
Select roles together

Together, you look at which role suits you best.
4
Get support

You receive information and support.
5
Start volunteering

You start at your own pace.

Why join our platform

Volunteers are essential for NGOs that support recognised refugees in their search for housing. You can help too. Whether you enjoy guiding people in their new neighbourhood, searching for a home, doing small repairs or taking on administrative tasks, there is always a role that matches your talents.

Volunteer work differs from one organisation to another, but it always revolves around one central mission: supporting people who temporarily need extra help. This can take many forms:

Housing support: Searching for affordable homes, contacting landlords, attending viewings.
Guidance: As a buddy, you help someone find their way in a new environment—understanding documents, contacting schools or services, and navigating the neighbourhood.
Practical help: Small repairs, picking up furniture, arranging transport.
Administration and organisation: Behind the scenes there is plenty to do—drafting rental contracts and inspection reports, writing texts or making short videos, organising events, applying for subsidies, bookkeeping, handling payments, and contacting partners.

Volunteers are never on their own. NGOs provide a warm and safe environment with proper guidance.

You receive support from experienced staff or coordinators, and you can always turn to someone with questions or concerns. Many organisations organise meet‑ups where volunteers can connect and exchange experiences. Some also offer thematic workshops, info sessions or training to help you grow in your role.

You make a difference for someone.
You become part of a warm community.
You meet like‑minded people and contribute to society.
A meaningful and enriching experience
You get to know new people, cultures and habits, use your talents or discover new ones.

Ready to get involved? Register here

Social map of housing actors

On this social map, you can find a range of actors providing housing-related support and/or information services. To better understand the type of assistance offered by each organisation, you can filter the results by categories of support.

If you are interested in integration support services for refugees beyond housing, please consult this service map, developed within the framework of the RISE project, funded by the EU.

Social map categories

Specialized housing support

Provide housing related support, guidance and mediation.

Examples include:

AiPL (Brussels)
APL (Wallonia)
Members of the Orbit network (Flanders)

General social support

May provide housing related information and/or general support services

This may include integration actors.

Examples include:

CAWs (Brussels, Flanders
BAPA (Brussels)
Agentschap Integratie, AMAL, ATLAS (Flanders)
CRIs (Wallonia)

Social housing

Includes public and subsidized private ‘social’ housing through AIS/SVK’s that act as intermediaries.
Provides affordable rental housing, conditioned to low income and vulnerabilities, however with very long waiting lists

Housing information service

Offers rental information on the most common needs of tenants, including information specific to the needs of newcomers.

Diaspora organization

May offer housing support services.
Provide information, translation, and mediation to facilitate access to housing.
Community based assistance.
Referral to other organizations.