Netherlands needs housing for 43,000 asylum seekers in 2016

It is expected that as many as 43,000 asylum seekers will have a residency permit status allowing them to qualify for social housing in the Netherlands. The prediction comes from a brief prepared by Justice Secretary Klaas Dijkhoff that he gave to BNR, the broadcaster reported.

It was already predicted that the Netherlands would need to accommodate 20 thousand refugees in the first half of 2016. Dijkhoff amended this with speculation that another 23,000 asylum-seekers will be given residency in the second half of the year. He added that the prognosis includes a margin of error, providing room for flexibility and adjustment.

For the current year around 28,900 people are in need of homes and the influx of refugees has pushed people wanting to qualify for social rented housing down on the list.