Utrecht and Amsterdam deliver homeless people: ‘All streets on red’
in cooperation with
NH News
NOS News•
Utrecht and Amsterdam are concerned about the increase in the number of homeless people. The admissions aldermen of the two municipalities therefore urge the cabinet to act as aldermen.
In a strong letter to the House of Representatives, alderman Streefland of Utrecht and alderman Groot Wassink of Amsterdam write that the number of homeless people has grown. “And now all the signals are once again on the red when it comes to the short term: the impact of the current crisis will exacerbate the homelessness problem.”
They also cite the housing crisis as the cause, reports NH News/AT5. Because people in social shelter and sheltered housing cannot move on, they will remain there, the aldermen write. “It is therefore important to understand it firmly.”
Difficult to map size
According to them, it is difficult to say how strongly the number of homeless people is mandatory. Social workers do indicate that there are more people sleeping outside than last year, that they see new faces and that the problem is “becoming more visible in the streets”.
The care providers in the cities also indicate that the number of people who report to them for support is already just as high as in the whole year, according to the aldermen.
Local customization required
The alderman sent the letter to the MPs because the budget of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will be discussed this week.
The cabinet is making 65 million euros available for homeless people on a structural basis. The two write that they are happy with this, but also point out that it is still unclear how the money will be distributed. They hope that there will be room for local customization.
In addition, seven million euros will be earmarked for homeless EU citizens. It is still unclear whether money will be deducted from the 65 million or extra, but Groot Wassink and Streefland ask MPs to ensure that it is extra money.