Amsterdam has over 15 thousand homeless people despite investments in measures

Despite the many measures to combat the homeless problem in Amsterdam, there are still 15,371 people who are homeless or close to it in the city. The municipality reported this based on the number of registrations at suitable institutions for the first quarter of the year. Considering that not everyone is registered with an institution, the municipality assumes that the actual number is a couple of thousand higher.

The municipality called it a “shockingly high number.” At first, the numbers were based on the number of shelter places, but the newest numbers come from an estimate based on the ETHOS method.

This method also includes people in less visible homeless situations, such as young adults or women and children living with acquaintances. According to a municipality spokesperson, this group is increasing in the city.

Amsterdam hopes to participate in the ETHOS count of the Kansfonds and the Hogeschool of Utrecht to compare the numbers and improve their policies.

Because the homelessness problem has been an issue in the capital for a long time, significant investments have been made in measures to combat it. For example, the municipality has created more than 350 extra temporary living areas, and another three shelter places will be added, which will be good for 90 spots. Investments are also made to ensure that people can live outside the city. And yet, it proved insufficient.

“Our helping offer is not in proportion with the demand we face. Street workers are working hard but have also admitted that with the increase in the number of homeless people, including EU (labor) migrants and the limited flow possibilities, the options for sheltering vulnerable people are increasingly limited,” said Alderman Rutger Groot Wassink.

Amsterdam is also very concerned about the consequences of the national plans for the homelessness problem of the new coalition of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.

The municipality thinks the number of homeless people will grow under this new Cabinet because the coalition parties are planning to stop funding the National Aliens Facility (LVV) and withdraw the Distribution Act. The LVV offers shelter and guidance to people who have not been granted residence in the Netherlands but have not returned to their home country.

The Distribution Act is meant to ensure a fair distribution of asylum seekers around the country. Amsterdam expects an increase in people on the street without this measure and a reduction in the number of available shelter places.