The municipality of Rotterdam has helped more than a hundred homeless people find a home in five months. “In this way they can work on their future from a calm, stable basis”, says alderman De Langen (CDA).
A house of their own has already been found for 61 people and the aim is to arrange this for fourteen others in the short term. A few dozen homeless people for whom a home of their own is still too big a step have been placed in a form of housing with supervision. It is estimated that they can also live independently within six months.
Getting life back in order
The end of October the alderman already announced that he wanted to find a place to live for a hundred homeless people in six months. That is one third of the people who use the night shelter in the Maasstad. De Langen: “We were able to realize this largest outflow so far thanks to good cooperation with the housing corporations and care providers.”
One of those care providers is the Center for Services (CVD). CVD social workers help the former homeless to get their lives back on track. Director Inez Basten: “Together we put the basics in order, such as an income, inventory of debts, health insurance and ID. By offering a listening ear and guidance, we help people on their way to more independence and self-reliance.”
Rotterdam, like other municipalities, received money from the government to strengthen the shelter for homeless people. Part of the nearly 20 million euros that the city received last year and this year in total has been used for this project.
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