Living under domestic energy deprivatisation in Brussels:

when your life become a file

2GENDERS project, Brussels qualitative part, 2013-2017

Anne BAUDAUX, Université Catholique de Louvain

Outline

2GENDERS project

Brussels context

Methodology

The « file » feeling

Primary conclusions

The 2GENDERS project

Multidisciplinary project on energy poverty involving the universities of Louvain (BE), Antwerp (BE), Mons (BE) and Birmingham (UK). Coordination: F. Bartiaux (UCL, BE)

Founder = BELSPO (Belgian Scientific Policy Office)A mixed-method researchObjectives:

describe & quantify energy poverty in Belgiumdeliberate possible interventions

Focus on associated vulnerabilities (health, mobility, social relations…)A « qualitative research team » for each Region

People living under the poverty line in Belgium, based on 2013 income (from Brussels report on poverty 2015, Observatory for Health and Wellbeing):

Brussels context

536 km / 333 miles from Manchester19 municipalities, a “public social action centre” in each

one

Brussels context

536 km / 333 miles from Manchester19 municipalities, a “public social action centre” in each1,187 890 citizens (Brussels Institute for Statistics and Analysis, 2016)23.5% of people between 18 and 64 are depending on public

allowances (social barometer 2015)38.4% of people in Brussels are at “risk of poverty or social

exclusion” (social barometer 2015)44,332 households are on a waiting list for a social dwelling (social

barometer 2015)~90% of dwellings to rent are not accessible for the 6 first income

deciles (Brussels rent observatory, 2013)

Brussels context

In 2013,

10.2% of the first 5 income deciles have declared being in energy poverty (“having

financial difficulties stopping them from being able to comfortably heat their

dwellings”)

11.1% were diagnosed as living with “hidden energy poverty” (meaning they have a

very low energy consumption)

(Energy Poverty Barometer 2015)

Brussels context

(From Brussels Institute for Environmental Management, energy study 2012)

% of dwellings built between 1981 and 2001

Methodology

Fieldwork since March 2014 among social workers, in “energy cells”, non-profit associations, attending debates, conferences and “energy saving tips” worshops.

Interviews with 18 people living under domestic energy deprivatisation

Criteria: difficulties paying energy bills, problems with humidity or insulation, under-consumption, proceeding to get renovation allowances,…

The « file » feeling

Last few years, massive appearance ofenergy units“energy houses”Information offices linked to municipalitiesAssociations proposing advice

Seems to indicate a certain (feeling of) complexity

The « file » feeling

Reported difficulties: Understanding one’s bill Knowing about one’s rights Finding out which service to turn to Frequent problems after a move Difficulty in getting a dwelling because of racism or

social allowances, points to collect for waiting lists Fraud, misleading advertising, dishonest suppliers…

The « file » feeling

“At the end you lose ground…” (Man, 48, unofficially

subleasing a room in a flat)“I’m becoming a

manager” (Woman, owner, going through 8 years of procedures against energy supplier because of her tenants not paying their bills)

I said “but, I gave everything already [to the

previous social worker], you're now in charge of

my case, didn’t she give you the file?” sounds

logical… “No, I have to start all over”. So I said

okay, and again the same documents, the same

copies (…) in two years I only saw her 3 times. 3

meetings of half an hour in 2 years!

(Woman, 61, widow, owner of a house, living with her daughter and grand-son)

“Well, if I would receive that kind of mail [you sent to the plaintiff], even myself,I wouldn't know what to do” (Judge of Peace,

Molenbeek, to the energy supplier attorney)

I was under pressure, I had to build a file, to call the contractors, to check the works in progress,…

it was a little too much. (…) I was so afraid to make a mistake, to forget something, a

document, and having to give the money back… I fell into a depression. (…) it’s not even the fact I had to run all the time, or the tiredness. It’s the stress that we keep inside, you can’t manage to

sleep, but life goes on and it’s just one thing after another: the children, the school, my job,… plus [the renovation proceeding going on]. Yes,

it’s hard.

Here it really is by word-of-

mouth: “I heard there is a

bonus, you should go to this

place”… there is not a lot of

information.

(Woman renovating her house, 2

children, 50)

(Woman renovating her house, 4 children, 43)

Primary conclusions

Observation: more and more people needing advice and/or financial help

Answers: many things are done, but with what efficiency/visibility?Different strategies: associative world and institutional tools Tendency to blame the poor: they should save energy, they do not

react fast enough, they fool the system, they do not pay attention to environment, they do not mobilise the social tools available to them.

Inequality in front of the juridical system, and the administration (question of education, network, self confidence, and not only financial resources).

THANK YOU !

« Brussels from the sky », Yann Arthus-Bertrand