SAAMO

What SAAMO does

SAAMO vzw (Samen uitsluiting aanpakken / "Tackling Exclusion Together") is a Belgian non-profit organization (vereniging zonder winstoogmerk) registered in Gent that practices opbouwwerk — a Dutch-language tradition of community development work — across Flanders and Brussels. Headquartered at Blaisantvest 70 in Gent with regional offices in Antwerpen, Brussel, Gent, Limburg, Oost-Vlaanderen, and Vlaams-Brabant, the organization employs 101–250 staff dedicated to supporting people in vulnerable social positions. Its portfolio is organized around eight themes: housing (Wonen), employment (Werk), social protection (Sociale Bescherming), education (Onderwijs), strong neighborhoods (Krachtige Buurten), digital inclusion (Digitale Inclusie), energy and climate (Energie en Klimaat), and collective citizenship (Collectief Burgerschap).

SAAMO's core offerings are neighborhood-based methodologies and social-service projects rather than technology products. Flagship frameworks include De STEK (low-threshold community hubs embedding social protection locally), Buurtpuzzel (neighborhood resilience projects), Samen op straat (youth street work), Zorgzame Buurten (care networks), Sterk Onderwijs (education strengthening), and Koffie & Formulieren / De Budgetgidsen (rights-claim support). Specialized service projects include Papillon (circular rental of energy-efficient appliances to combat energy poverty), EnergieK (energy advisory), Digibank (digital assistance), and Digitaal Inclusieve Wijk (digital inclusion). On the advocacy side, SAAMO co-initiates the Woonzaak coalition, which produced the Woonbarometer annual monitoring tool, the Woonspraak podcast series, and major legal victories including the 2023 Belgian Constitutional Court annulment of three Flemish housing-policy provisions and the 2025 European Committee for Social Rights condemnation of Flemish housing policy.

The organization is primarily funded through Flemish and local-authority government subsidies, with services delivered at no cost to beneficiaries. Its go-to-market is community-led and grassroots-driven, combining direct field outreach through STEK locations and street work with coalition-based policy advocacy at Flemish and European levels. The customer base is diffuse (vulnerable individuals, youth, housing-insecure families, digitally excluded populations), while the funder base is concentrated in the public sector. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and SAAMO operates as an independent non-profit with a board (Raad van Bestuur) and a decentralized coordinator structure led by general coordinators including Ann-Sophie Hofman and Gregory Cremmerye.

Name

SAAMO

Legal name

SAAMO vzw

Website

https://saamo.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SAAMO vzw is a Belgian non-profit practicing community development work (opbouwwerk) across Flanders and Brussels, supporting people in vulnerable social positions through neighborhood-based programs in housing, employment, digital inclusion, energy poverty, education, and collective citizenship, funded primarily by government subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services and Community Work

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Community work services
• Social inclusion programs
• Housing rights advocacy
• Digital inclusion support
• Poverty reduction services

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: As a non-profit social work organization, SAAMO is primarily funded through government subsidies from Flemish and local authorities. They receive operational funding to conduct community work, advocacy, and social programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SAAMO is a Flemish non-profit organization that delivers community-based social work (opbouwwerk) to people in vulnerable positions across Flanders and Brussels. Its offerings combine neighborhood-level direct support (e.g., STEK community hubs, Digibank digital assistance, Papillon appliance rental, EnergieK energy advisory, Samen op straat youth work) with systemic advocacy campaigns such as the Woonzaak housing rights coalition. Services are free to beneficiaries and funded primarily by Flemish and local government subsidies.

Product overview

SAAMO is a social work organization (Opbouwwerk) operating across Flanders and Brussels, Belgium. Rather than a unified technology product, SAAMO offers a portfolio of community-based programs and methodologies including neighborhood empowerment models (De STEK, Buurtpuzzel), youth engagement approaches (Samen op straat), and advocacy campaigns (Woonzaak). The organization develops reusable frameworks like the STEK model for social protection, publishes toolkits and digipubs, and runs thematic projects addressing housing, energy poverty, digital inclusion, education, and collective citizenship. These offerings work together as an integrated approach to strengthening social protection at the local level.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Woonzaak: A campaign coalition advocating for housing rights and challenging the Flemish government on housing policy through European complaints procedures.
• De STEK
• Samen op straat
• Digitaal Inclusieve Wijk

Products and services

• De STEK Neighborhood-based community work model that increases access to social rights, quality services, and adequate income support by embedding social protection functions within local community spaces. Delivered to people in vulnerable positions in neighborhoods across Antwerp, Brussels, Limburg, and other regions.
• Buurtpuzzel Neighborhood strengthening projects that build resilient communities where neighbors know each other, services are accessible, and residents actively shape changes in their local area.
• Samen op straat Youth empowerment approach that strengthens young people in vulnerable positions by building their chances and voice in society, working in public spaces and creating intergenerational connections.
• Woonzaak Housing rights campaign and coalition that advocates for fundamentally just housing policy in Flanders through complaints procedures, European legal action, and the Woonbarometer annual monitoring tool.
• Papillon Innovative, social, and circular rental model for energy-efficient household appliances targeting low-income families to combat energy poverty.
• EnergieK Energy poverty advisory service that helps households reduce energy costs through information, guidance, and small-scale interventions.
• Digitaal Inclusieve Wijk Digital inclusion initiative that helps vulnerable populations develop digital skills and access online services, awarded the Federal Poverty Prize in 2022.
• Woonbarometer Annual monitoring tool launched by Woonzaak 2.0 that evaluates Flemish housing policy against 9 housing rights requirements, published each March since 2025.
• Woonspraak Podcast Monthly podcast series by Woonzaak featuring 8 episodes on the structural housing crisis in Flanders, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and YouTube.
• Digibank Community-based digital assistance program that helps people with limited digital access navigate online services and combat digital exclusion.
• Zorgzame Buurten Care Networks model ('Minder mazen, meer net') that develops organizational approaches for creating neighborhoods with strong social support structures.
• Sterk Onderwijs Education strengthening model that works with schools, local governments, and families to create strong learning environments and equal educational opportunities for vulnerable children.
• Koffie & Formulieren Community assistance model combining the welcoming atmosphere of neighborhood work with practical help from trained volunteers to navigate administrative procedures.
• De Budgetgidsen Individual and family support approach where budget guides accompany people to help them claim their rights and access services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000 households on social housing waiting lists represented through Woonzaak coalition
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AP HogeschoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Collaboration for the 'Dag van de Democratie 2026' inspirational event on democracy and civil society. AP Hogeschool co-organizes this event with SAAMO and other partners.
• Avansa regio Antwerpen vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Co-organizer of the 'Dag van de Democratie 2026' inspirational event focusing on democracy, opposition, and the role of civil society.
• Kras jeugdwerkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Partner in organizing the 'Dag van de Democratie 2026' event, bringing youth work perspective to the democracy day.
• JES vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 September 2026Partner in the 'Dag van de Democratie 2026' event, contributing to the inspirational moment for professional group workers.
• Coalitie Iedereen BeschermdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026SAAMO is part of the Coalition Everyone Protected which organizes a study day on social work as a human rights profession. The coalition includes human rights organizations and social work professionals.
• EmpactcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2026Co-organizer of the event 'De strijd tegen racisme, toen en nu' (The fight against racism, then and now), marking 20 years since the Van Themsche shooting incident.
• Bindus vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2026Partner in organizing the racism awareness event, bringing expertise on diversity and inclusion.
• WanderkamersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Partner in organizing the inspiration evening on participation and input in Bruges.
• beweging.netminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Co-organizer of the participation and input inspiration evening in Bruges.
• MasereelfondsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2026Partner in the Bruges inspiration evening on participation and civic engagement.
• Vlaams HuurdersplatformcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Woonzaak coalition advocating for housing rights. The platform represents tenant interests in policy discussions.
• Netwerk tegen ArmoedecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Woonzaak coalition and broader poverty reduction efforts in Flanders.
• Welzijnszorg vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Woonzaak coalition working on social housing and poverty issues.
• CAW-GroepcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Woonzaak coalition and various social service initiatives.
• ATD Vierde WereldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Woonzaak coalition and anti-poverty initiatives.
• Taskforce Digitale InclusiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAAMO is part of the Taskforce Digitale Inclusie, an open letter coalition advocating for resources to support digital inclusion in Flanders and Brussels.
• Coalitie Humaan OCMW-beleidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of poverty organizations, trade unions, professional associations of social workers and income support recipients working together for humane OCMW (Public Center for Social Welfare) policy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqG_d6fe2CcFp7Nm6kK1rfQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAAMObe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/saamo-opbouwwerk
• Instagraminstagram.com/SAAMO_opbouwwerk
• Xx.com/SAAMObe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAAMO