Why join our platform?
The support of volunteers is often essential during the housing search of recognised refugees. 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:
- You will be provided with a warm and safe environment, and 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.
You become part of a meaningful and enriching experience.
You get to know new people, cultures and habits, use your talents or discover new ones.
How it works
As a volunteer, you will help our NGO partners to find the right homes for refugees.
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1
Register with us
Sign up via the registration form and choose your region.
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2
NGO will contact you
You will be contacted for an introductory meeting by an NGO in your area.
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3
Determine your volunteer role together with the NGO
Sit together with the NGO and look at which role suits you best.
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4
Get support
You receive information, guidance and support on how to best fulfill your meaningful volunteering role.
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5
Start volunteering
You start at your own pace, while contributing to meaningful change.
Social map categories
Specialised housing support services
Provide housing related support, guidance, and mediation.
Examples include:
- AiPL (Brussels)
- APL (Wallonia)
- Orbit network members (Flanders)
General social support services
May provide housing related support within the framework of broader social or integration-related support services.
This may include integration actors.
Examples include:
- CAWs (Brussels, Flanders)
- BAPA (Brussels)
- Agentschap Integratie, AMAL, ATLAS (Flanders)
- CRIs (Wallonia)
Social housing
- Includes both public and subsidised private 'social' housing through AIS/SVKs that act as intermediaries.
- Provides affordable rental housing, conditioned to low income and vulnerabilities, however with very long waiting lists.
Housing information services
Offer rental information on the most common needs of tenants, including information specific to the needs of newcomers.
Diaspora organisations
- May offer housing support services.
- Provide information, translation, and mediation to facilitate access to housing.
- Community based assistance.
- Referral to other organisations.
Financial support mechanisms
- Financial support provided through rental deposits and rental subsidies.
- May be subject to registration in social housing systems.
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.
Not all of these services are able to provide immediate or short-term housing solutions!
Access to public social housing and private social housing schemes such as social rental agencies (SVK/AIS) often involves waiting periods that can extend over several years, depending on the region in Belgium.
Still, early registration remains highly recommended. It is a necessary step to secure more affordable housing options in the medium to long term. Moreover, being registered in the social housing system can grant access to additional forms of financial support, such as rental subsidies.
Therefore, even in situations of urgent need, being informed about these mechanisms and registration is a crucial investment in their longer-term housing stability.
Resources for volunteers
No resources match the selected filters.
Pas à pas Chercher ensemble un logement pour les réfugiés
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