The problems keeping city residents awake at night and disturbing business owners are not related to the begging ban, Cahen told RTL. She said the municipality was working on solving other problems. One of the capital’s strategies for the future consisted of breathing new life into the Gare district, putting on events and concerts. If more people were around the area, she said, then one would not be bothered by prostitutes and drug dealers; however, if the latter are the only people populating the streets, then it naturally inspires fear.
Around 200 homeless people have been counted in the capital this year, but this figure is merely a snapshot of a greater problem, Cahen said. Social services would never be sufficient, but she emphasised that the capital had a lot of different support services on offer. She added that hundreds of beds were available throughout the city, from basic structures with space to sleep, to furnished rooms. Recently, the council collaborated with the Ministry of Family to open a modular container for further accommodation. However, she said many people did not live in the city, which is why she has launched an appeal to other municipalities to add to their available structures.
The capital is currently focusing on opening more shelters for women and expanding their Housing-First availability. The idea is to provide people with a roof over their head without making them fulfil conditions in advance, or discriminating on the basis of alcohol and drug dependency, or psychiatric issues. Cahen said they want to give people a home and then take care of the rest.
What does the former DP minister make of the new government, almost three months after its inauguration? And what are her thoughts on the recent Claude Meisch controversy and the much-disputed begging ban?
Cahen said there was a lot of the usual discourse before the elections, meaning that whoever won would have to meet high expectations and demands. She said she knows what it is like after spending a decade in government, when every election promise is closely scrutinised. In the early days, she said it was normal to be full with the urge to take action, but that it was entirely possible for parties to make promises they could not keep. One has to learn from it and revise expectations afterwards, she said. In any case, she said it was best to wait 100 days and let the new ministry departments find their feet.
