Applying for certification as a Supported Housing Initiative

Managers of Supported Housing Initiatives (IHP)

To obtain accreditation, you must meet several requirements:

• Have legal personality. Your initiative must be legally established in one of the following forms:
  • a nonprofit association (ASBL);
  • an international nonprofit association (AISBL);
  • a foundation;
  • a legal entity under public law;
  • an association with legal personality that is majority-owned by public authorities (corporations are excluded).
• Fulfill your mission as a Protected Housing Initiative as defined in Article 538/43;
  • provide stable housing;
  • offer appropriate support;
  • enable beneficiaries to progress toward social autonomy and independence in daily life.
• Develop an initial service plan (Art. 538/44) and commit to implementing it:
  • this service plan encompasses all the activities of an IHP and aligns with its missions;
  • this plan is beneficiary-centered;
  • this plan includes at a minimum:
    • the identification of the IHP and its environment;
    • how the IHP fits into the mental health network;
    • the definition of the IHP’s objectives and action plan;
    • the self-assessment mechanisms put in place to ensure the IHP’s proper functioning.
• Agree to:
  • develop a new service plan every five years, in accordance with regulations;
  • enroll the members referred to in Article 538/47 or agree to enter into one or more agreements referred to in Article 538/47;
  • be a member of at least one mental health consultation platform;
  • have a multidisciplinary team in accordance with the provisions of Articles 538/50 through 538/53;
  • organize the multidisciplinary consultation referred to in Article 538/54;
  • ensure the contact referred to in Article 538/55;
  • have a building that complies with Articles 538/58 through 538/63;
  • comply with the requirements of Articles 538/64 and 538/65;
  • maintain, for each beneficiary, the individual record referred to in Article 538/66;
  • develop a personal data protection protocol as referred to in Article 538/67, paragraph 2;
  • respect the rights of the beneficiary as provided for in Articles 538/68 through 538/70;
  • not charge accommodation fees higher than those set pursuant to Article 538/71;
  • collect and report the socio-epidemiological data referred to in Article 538/73;
  • comply with the program established by the Government or its delegate pursuant to Article 538/74;
  • comply with the ethical rules defined by the Government;
• The following commitments must be fulfilled no later than six months from the date of approval:
  • the conclusion of one or more collaboration agreements with other mental health services or professionals (paragraph 6)
  • participation in at least one mental health consultation platform (paragraph 7)
  • the use of a multidisciplinary team that complies with the conditions established by the Government regarding the duties, qualifications, and working hours of the team members.

The Government may specify the accreditation conditions listed above. It may also establish, if necessary, one or more additional accreditation conditions.

The application for accreditation must be submitted to the “Healthcare Reception and Accommodation” Department by any means that provides proof of the date of submission. If your application is incomplete, the AVIQ will request the missing documents. Once your application is complete, the AVIQ will acknowledge receipt of the application for accreditation within ten days of receiving the complete application.

The Protected Housing Initiative (IHP) has one month from the date of the application to complete its application. If it fails to do so, its application for approval is deemed inadmissible.

• Walloon Code on Social Action and Health - Decree section
• Walloon Regulatory Code for Social Action and Health