asbl DIOGENES vzw

What asbl DIOGENES vzw does

asbl DIOGENES vzw is a Brussels-based Belgian nonprofit (asbl/vzw) founded in 1995 that provides direct social services to homeless and precariously housed people across the Brussels-Capital Region. With a staff of 24, the organization delivers street-level outreach (Travail de Rue), metro station support (Métro-Liens, SubLINK in 12 priority stations since April 2023), housing accompaniment and Housing First programming (Halte Thuis), intercultural mediation for Roma and Eastern European populations, and the Collectif les Morts de la Rue memorial collective. In 2024, DIOGENES documented 1,500+ people helped, 14,000+ interventions, 3,850+ referrals, 648 medical reconnections, 541 administrative regularizations, and 200+ housing placements.

The organization holds formal agrément from the Commission communautaire commune (COCOM) as both a street work center and Housing First center, plus AIPL certification, making COCOM structural subsidies its primary funding backbone. Additional revenue comes from European Commission co-financing (EaSI program via the Rights First project Jan 2022–Jun 2024), project grants for SubLINK and ISSUE, private donations (with 30% tax deductibility since January 2025), monthly sponsorship, and bequests. DIOGENES coordinates multi-partner consortia that include Bruss'help, New Samusocial, L'Ilot, Hobo, Pierre d'Angle, Communa, SMES, STIB/MIVB, social housing platforms (CCL, Bru4Home), four CPAS offices, and Actiris.

The GTM is community-led street outreach rather than commercial sales — services are free at point of delivery and 93.1%+ of intercultural mediation encounters in 2023 occurred in beneficiaries' own living environments. The organization also runs awareness campaigns ("Ik besta.", 2020) and publishes policy recommendations for 2024–2029. No commercial technology product is sold; the underlying capability stack is professional social-work methodology, partner-network coordination, and advocacy through publications and media.

Name

asbl DIOGENES vzw

Legal name

asbl DIOGENES vzw

Website

https://diogenes.brussels

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

asbl DIOGENES vzw is a Brussels-based nonprofit providing street-level outreach, Housing First, metro station support, and intercultural mediation services to homeless and precariously housed individuals across the Brussels-Capital Region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies: DIOGENES is an approved (agréée) and subsidized organization by the Commission communautaire commune (COCOM/GGC) of the Brussels-Capital Region. This represents the primary structural funding.
2. Private Donations: Individual donations accepted via bank transfer (BNP PARIBAS FORTIS: BE18 0012 9487 8965). Donors receive a fiscal attestation allowing 30% tax reduction on donations over €40.
3. Sponsorship/Regular Giving: Monthly sponsorship through permanent bank order (ordre permanent) allows donors to provide regular support for sustainable programs.
4. Legacies/Bequests: The organization accepts legacy gifts and bequests from individuals wishing to support the mission beyond their lifetime.
5. Project-based European Funding: Rights First project is co-financed by the European Commission EaSI program and supported by COCOM. Projects like SubLINK receive specific project funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

asbl DIOGENES vzw is a Brussels-based nonprofit that provides direct street-level outreach and social support services for homeless and precariously housed individuals. The organization operates street work (Travail de Rue), metro station outreach (Métro-Liens/SubLINK), Housing First programs, intercultural mediation, and the Collectif les Morts de la Rue memorial collective. All services are delivered free of charge to beneficiaries.

Product overview

asbl DIOGENES vzw is a Brussels-based nonprofit offering a comprehensive portfolio of social services focused on street work with homeless populations. The organization operates multiple interconnected programs including street outreach (Travail de Rue), metro station support (Métro-Liens), housing assistance (Soutien au Logement), and Housing First initiatives (Halte Thuis/Station Logement). Additional services include intercultural mediation, the Collectif les Morts de la Rue for dignified memorial ceremonies, and innovative projects like Rights First and SubLINK. The organization also conducts awareness campaigns and publishes educational materials to fight homelessness stigma.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Travail de Rue (Street Work): Core street work services for homeless people
• Métro-Liens / Metro-Verbindingen
• Sous-liens / SubLINK
• Soutien au Logement / Ondersteuning bij Woonst
• Housing First Halte Thuis
• Housing First Station Logement
• Médiation Interculturelle / Interculturele Bemiddeling
• Collectif les Morts de la Rue / Collectief Straatdoden
• Home Street Home
• Rights First
• ISSUE

Products and services

• Travail de Rue (Street Work)
• Métro-Liens (Metro Connections)
• Housing First Halte Thuis / Station Logement
• Soutien au Logement / Ondersteuning bij Woonst (Housing Support)
• Médiation Interculturelle (Intercultural Mediation)
• Collectif les Morts de la Rue (Collectief Straatdoden)
• Rights First
• ISSUE - Temporary Occupation Project

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ people helped annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

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.

• Bruss'helpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Rights First project coordinator. Bruss'help leads this 30-month project (January 2022-June 2024) funded by EU EaSI, bringing together multiple partners to improve access to social rights for homeless people.
• Commission communautaire commune (COCOM/Vivalis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDIOGENES is officially approved (agréée) and subsidized by COCOM as a street work center and Housing First center. COCOM also co-funds Rights First project.
• OCMW Brussels (CPAS 1000, Vorst, Oudergem, Sint-Gillis)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour Brussels CPAS (Public Centers for Social Welfare) participate directly in Rights First project, helping reactivate social rights of homeless people.
• ActirisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels employment service involved in Rights First project to facilitate labor market integration for homeless individuals.
• L'IlotcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Rights First and ISSUE projects. Provides housing solutions and support services for homeless people in Brussels.
• New SamusocialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Rights First, ISSUE, and Collectif les Morts de la Rue. Manages emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Housing First services.
• HobocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDay center operator and employment support partner in Rights First project, helping people return to work.
• Pierre d'AnglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ISSUE project for temporary occupation of empty buildings, providing support for people in precarious housing situations.
• SMEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ISSUE project for temporary occupation of empty buildings.
• CommunacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages real estate for temporary occupation projects. Cost of €20/person/day in 2025. Partner in ISSUE and policy advocacy for temporary occupations.
• FéBULminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation of Brussels social organizations. Partner in temporary occupation advocacy and policy work.
• Crisis (UK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBritish homelessness charity provides expertise in holistic approach to homelessness for Rights First project evaluation and peer support.
• St Joan de Déu Serveis Socials (Barcelona)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial services organization from Barcelona provides expertise in holistic approach to homelessness for Rights First project.
• Social Housing Platforms (CCL and Bru4Home)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels social housing platforms provide housing units for Housing First Halte Thuis project. 21 new quality units provided in 2021.
• STIB/MIVB (Brussels Metro)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrussels public transport company partners with DIOGENES for Métro-Liens and SubLINK projects in 12 priority metro stations.
• Brussels Prevention and Security (BPV)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunds awareness campaigns like 'Ik besta.' (2020) and 'Sensibilisation 2019' as part of Global Security and Prevention Plan.
• Smes-b (Peer Support)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided guidance for PAT (Peer and Team Support) project that helped integrate Mario as peer helper in Housing First Halte Thuis.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk): Flemish-network organization providing social welfare services across Belgium, including homelessness and housing support. Comparable as a broader social-assistance operator, but focused on Flanders rather than the Brussels-Capital Region.
• Sant Joan de Déu Serveis Socials: Barcelona-based social services organization providing holistic homelessness support. Comparable methodology peer named as Rights First partner, but operating in Catalonia rather than Brussels.
• Crisis UK: UK national homelessness charity providing housing, education, and advocacy. Comparable as a peer-to-peer learning partner under Rights First, but operating in the UK rather than directly competing in Brussels.

Direct peers

• Bruss'help: Brussels coordinating platform for homelessness and precarious housing actors. Direct peer — coordinator of the Rights First project in which DIOGENES participates, and the de facto sector convening body for the same population DIOGENES serves.
• L'Ilot: Brussels-based nonprofit providing housing solutions and support services for homeless individuals. Direct peer — partner in Rights First and ISSUE projects, and a comparable Housing First operator serving the same beneficiaries.
• Communa: Brussels real-estate operator enabling temporary occupation of empty buildings for homeless individuals at €20/person/day. Direct peer — ISSUE project partner and collaborator on policy advocacy for temporary occupations.
• Samusocial Brussels: Brussels emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Housing First provider. Direct peer operating in the same homeless-services space, partner in Rights First, ISSUE, and Collectif les Morts de la Rue, and serving overlapping street populations.
• Hobo: Brussels day center and employment-support operator for people in precarious situations. Direct peer — partner in Rights First and active in the same street-level service delivery ecosystem as DIOGENES.
• Pierre d'Angle: Brussels-based nonprofit supporting people in precarious housing situations, including temporary building occupations. Direct peer — ISSUE project partner working on the same temporary-occupation model DIOGENES advocates.

Broad incumbents

• Armée du Salut / Salvation Army Belgium: International established humanitarian organization running emergency shelters, housing, and reintegration programs in Belgium. Comparable mission and beneficiary population, but with a much broader portfolio and international footprint beyond Brussels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVCRan2PJ4xE2VZeyhpP7bQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/diogenesbxl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asbl-diogenes-vzw
• Instagraminstagram.com/diogenesasbl

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 asbl DIOGENES vzw