Belgians launch poverty barometer

16 April 2008

BELGIUM – A number of organisations involved in combating poverty have developed a poverty barometer. The organisations say that too little has been done to combat poverty in recent years.

The organisations intend to use the barometer to measure the impact of government policies to combat poverty in forthcoming years.

The barometer makes use of criteria like income, employment, health, housing, education and community life.

In 2007, nine organisations joined forces to formulate the "2017 Decennium Goals".

The document identifies six goals that need to be achieved by 2017 to eradicate poverty.

One of the objectives is to halve the number of households where nobody has a job.

150,000 affordable new homes for rent need to be created.

[flandersenews.be / Expatica]