Complaints about homeless people doubled in five years

Since the coronavirus pandemic, an increasing number of Netherlands residents have experienced nuisance from homeless people. In five years, the number of complaints has almost doubled, according to police figures analyzed by ANP.

The police have registered over 33,000 reports of nuisance from homeless people so far this year. Five years ago, there were 17,000 in the same period. Compared to last year, the number of nuisance reports increased by 6 percent

The police do not know why the number of reports is increasing. “We register the nuisance reports, but do not investigate the causes,” a spokesperson said.

According to the Salvation Army, a possible explanation is that the shelters have been continuously full in recent years. “There is too little flow from the shelters to housing. As a result, more people are forced to live on the streets, which can lead to more perceived nuisance.”

During the pandemic, the government temporarily sheltered homeless people in hotels and old prisons, among other things. “That no longer happens on such a large scale, which may also explain part of the increase.”