The board of mayor and aldermen (B&W) is concerned about “the strictest asylum policy ever” and the money it receives, but is positive about the housing and accessibility plans in the government program of the Schoof cabinet. They made this known in an initial response.
Municipalities are increasingly being tasked with fewer and fewer financial resources. That is what the board says. “We need to take strong measures to keep the budget in order and to spare people in the most vulnerable positions as much as possible. But we are at our wits’ end. The government needs to come up with a solution quickly and restore the balance between tasks and resources in the municipal fund. We cannot continue on this path.”
The board also expressed concerns about the plans for asylum. “In Utrecht, we will continue to provide humane reception and a liveable and safe city. The combination of measures proposed by the cabinet has major consequences for the people who are already staying in asylum reception and for people who are fleeing to our country because of war and violence. But certainly also for the residents of our city.”
The board expects that asylum procedures will now take even longer, that people will be able to work less on their integration and that many newcomers will end up on the streets. “And that is on top of the enormous increase in EU migrant workers who become homeless due to loss of work and housing. The consequences of that will soon be noticeable on the streets.”
The board does support the government’s efforts to get newcomers to work quickly, but according to her, a basis of good reception, housing and family reunification is so important for that. “It would be good if the government stays in touch with the practice in our cities and villages and adjusts the plans accordingly.”
One hundred thousand new homes
In contrast, the board is positive about the cabinet plans for 100,000 new homes. “By adding homes, multiple problems can be solved at the same time. In doing so, we believe it is important that specific attention is paid to affordable homes.”
The board calls on the cabinet to pay (more) attention to making the existing housing stock future-proof. “When it comes to new large-scale construction sites, it is crucial for Utrecht that investments are made in the accessibility of future neighborhoods.”
“Connections such as the Utrecht Merwedelijn are a prerequisite for the construction of tens of thousands of new and affordable homes in the Domstad. We think it is positive that the government is allocating 2.5 billion euros for this type of infrastructure.”
