Another Tragedy in the Metro: How Precarity Is Killing in Brussels

By Kadir Duran | Bruxelles Korner

A Chilling Incident at Anneessens

In the early hours of Wednesday, July 17, around 4:30 a.m., tragedy struck in the quiet stillness of Brussels. A person, seemingly seeking shelter in the Anneessens metro station, was fatally trapped in an automated metal shutter used to close off access to the underground network at night. The STIB confirmed the death on site, as reported by the Flemish media outlet Bruzz.

This is not an isolated case. Just weeks earlier, another man died after being expelled from the Saint-Guidon station in Anderlecht. In 2023, a lifeless body was discovered in the Mérode station. The list grows longer, forming a grim inventory of urban misery.

The Metro: Last Refuge for the Vulnerable

In Brussels, nearly 10,000 people are homeless, according to the latest count by Bruss’help in November 2024. Among them, nearly 1,000 sleep directly on the streets—often in metro stations, tunnels, underground parking lots, or beneath bridges. While the automatic closure of metro stations is essential for network security, it becomes a deadly trap for those seeking warmth, shelter, and a moment of rest. The metro is their last refuge… and sometimes, their final resting place.

Rising Insecurity for All

The STIB has raised the alarm. The increase in homelessness and drug use is directly impacting the sense of safety in public transport.
“More and more people are unfortunately becoming homeless, and drug use is rising significantly across Brussels,” the company stated in a press release. “This has negative repercussions on our network.”

In response, the STIB has strengthened its measures:

A dedicated social intervention team, Includo, operates 24/7 to guide homeless individuals toward support services.
Security patrols have increased by 30%.
Staff presence has been extended during early and late hours—critical times for incidents.

However, the STIB also emphasizes its limitations: it is not a social aid institution and cannot replace public policies on housing, mental health, or addiction.

Testimonies and Field Observations: NGOs on High Alert

The association Les Morts de la Rue, which documents and commemorates the deaths of homeless individuals, reminds us that these are not isolated incidents. They reflect systemic failures, inadequate social responses, and an overwhelmed support system.

The Belgian Red Cross describes the situation as “constantly worsening,” with alarming statistics:

From 7,134 people in 2022 to 9,777 in 2024—a 25% increase in just two years.
In Wallonia, 4,713 children live without stable housing.
One in three homeless individuals is a woman—often invisible in public discourse.

Solutions… Still Too Limited

Some support systems exist, but they remain under-resourced:

Samusocial can host up to 1,000 people per night, offering meals, showers, medical care, and psychosocial support.
Mobile outreach teams patrol the streets nightly to assist the most vulnerable.
An emergency hotline is available: 0800 99 340.

Yet, in the face of rising social pressure, soaring rents, the asylum reception crisis, and a lack of public housing, these efforts are mere band-aids on a gaping wound.

Policy Lag: Toward a Comprehensive Strategy?

The Brussels Region has set a goal of “zero homelessness by 2030,” as outlined in its Masterplan: Ending Homelessness. But the gap between political ambition and the lived reality of those affected remains vast. The metro has become a mirror reflecting a collective failure—where human dignity is at stake.

In Memory of the Forgotten

The death at Anneessens station is not just a tragic incident—it is a symbol of deadly indifference. In one of the most central neighborhoods of Brussels, the European capital, people still die alone, trapped in metro shutters.
As long as sleeping under a bridge or in a metro car feels safer than finding a place in a shelter, homelessness will never be a choice—it will remain a sentence.

Resources and Emergency Contacts

Samusocial (Emergency Shelter): 0800 99 340
Bruss’help (Support & Orientation): www.brusshelp.org
Belgian Red Cross: Emergency aid, food distribution, temporary shelter
Includo – STIB: Social mediation and human support in metro stations

Key Support Organizations in Brussels

L’Ilot – 73 Rue de la Procession, 1060 Saint-Gilles
Reintegration support: shelter, guidance, housing access
Pierre d’Angle – 24/7 emergency shelter
Meals, psychosocial support
Jamais Sans Toit – Family homelessness support
Sustainable housing solutions
La Maison Rue Verte – Schaerbeek
Day shelter, social aid, reintegration workshops
Fédération AMA – www.ama.be
Federation of shelters and advocacy for stronger social policies