ANP
In collaboration with
NH News
News from the NOS•yesterday, 21:10
Utrecht and Amsterdam are concerned about the increase in the number of homeless people. The councilors for the reception of the two municipalities therefore ask for the intervention of the cabinet.
In a joint letter to the House of Representatives, Councilor Streefland of Utrecht and Councilor Groot Wassink of Amsterdam write that the number of homeless people has increased significantly over the past decade. “And now all the signs are in the red again when it comes to the short term: the impact of the current inflationary crisis will aggravate the homeless problem.”
They also cite the housing crisis as a cause, reports NH News / AT5. Since people in social housing and sheltered housing cannot go on, they stay there too long, the councilors write. “It is therefore important to intervene firmly”.
Difficult to map the size
According to them, it is difficult to say how much homelessness has increased. Social workers indicate that there are more outdoor sleepers than last year, seeing new faces and that the problem is “becoming more visible on the streets”.
Care providers in cities also indicate that the number of people turning to them for support is already as high as last year as a whole, according to councilors.
Local customization required
The councilors send the letter to the parliamentarians because next week we will talk about the budget of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
The government is making € 65 million available to homeless people on a structural basis. The two write that they are happy with this, but also point out that it is not yet clear how the money will be distributed. They hope there is room for local customization.
In addition, seven million euros will be earmarked for homeless EU citizens. It is still unclear whether that money will be deducted from the 65 million or extra, but Groot Wassink and Streefland are asking MPs to make sure it is extra money.
