A federal subsidy of 1.47 million for the transition home in Enghien

The federal State will pay 1,470,336.22 euros to Serco Belgium sa for the operation of the transition house in Enghien during the period from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027. The Royal Decree of August 27, 2026, signed by King Philippe and countersigned by the Minister of Justice A. Verlinden, is published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge) No. 254 of November 6, 2026, on page 59583, under reference C − 2026/008168.

The mechanism is based on the law of May 17, 2006, regarding the external legal status of persons sentenced to a custodial sentence (Articles 9/2, § 3, and 70), the law of May 22, 2003, regarding the organization of the budget and accounting of the federal State (Articles 121 to 124), and the law of March 23, 2026, containing the general expenditure budget for the 2026 budget year. The decree is part of the Council of Ministers’ decision of June 11, 2021, to extend the number of places in transition houses to 100, and subsequently those of March 1, 2024, and July 18, 2025, fixing the financial intervention for the Enghien establishment.

The text also relies on two recent royal decrees: that of July 22, 2026, fixing the accreditation standards and operating conditions of a transition house, and that of July 17, 2024, granting accreditation to a transition house in Enghien. The Finance Inspection issued its opinion on June 29, 2026, and the Minister of Budget gave their agreement on July 8, 2026.

Three financial years, one annual ceiling

The operating period of the Enghien transition house began on August 1, 2024, and ends no later than three years later, on July 31, 2027. The maximum annual subsidy is fixed financial year by financial year:

• first year of operation: 1,507,410.80 euros;
• second year of operation: 1,434,474.36 euros;
• third year of operation: 1,470,336.22 euros.

The decree specifically covers the third year, from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, inclusive. This amount cannot be exceeded: all costs and indexations are included, and no reserves may be established, with any unused balance being permanently lost.

70% advance and balance under control

The settlement follows a system of recoverable advance and balance. The advance is set at 70% of the annual allocation, or 1,029,235.35 euros, paid upon the entry into force of the decree. The balance, capped at 30%, is only released after a thorough audit and approval of the financial file submitted by the operator, within two months following the receipt of all supporting documents.

The balance calculation may be adjusted pro rata if filling to maximum occupancy takes longer than agreed, if the average occupancy of the previous financial year is below 90%, or if a resident’s stay exceeds six months due to operational failures. Furthermore, payment may be interrupted, adapted, recovered, or stopped in the event of serious misconduct or negligence by the operator, improper use of the subsidy, or non-execution of part of the mission.

What the subsidy covers

The annex of the decree lists the eligible expenses: personnel costs, operating costs, travel expenses, food costs, inmate maintenance costs, damages related to vandalism committed by residents, medical expenses, and one-off investments. Certain expenses are explicitly excluded, including alcoholic beverages, staff food costs, staff parking fees, traffic fines and taxes, depreciation of investments, as well as the acquisition of buildings.

Any other possible subsidy or income must be declared transparently to avoid double funding, and income generated by the operation—sales to visitors or convict labor—must be returned for the benefit of the residents. The operator submits a justification of expenses twice a year and retains the originals for seven years.

The decree comes into effect on August 1, 2026, and expires on August 1, 2027. Its late publication, more than two months after signing, formalizes an intervention already underway: for readers, the document sets out in black and white the federal cost of placing convicts in Enghien and the requirements demanded of a private operator, Serco Belgium sa, which must demonstrate an occupancy rate of at least 90% to retain its full funding.