Homeless people offered gift voucher after being forced to move for NATO summit
About 40 homeless people who stay in the woods around the World Forum in The Hague and had to leave because of the NATO summit last week, have received a gift voucher from the Salvation Army to replace lost items. The municipality called it a “noble gesture.” But Straat Consulaat, which represents the interests of homeless people in The Hague, called the situation bitter and uncomfortable, Omroep West reports.
An emergency ordinance was in effect during the NATO summit, meaning that people who were staying in the Scheveningse Bosjes and the Haagse Bos around the World Forum had to leave. They were accommodated in an empty school building. Another 35 homeless families who were staying in a hotel also had to move to make way for other guests. They were temporarily accommodated in other hotels.
The woods were cleaned for the summit, so any items or tents left behind may have been lost. The Salvation Army, which provided shelter for the homeless people during the summit, therefore handed out gift vouchers from a sports shop. A “noble gesture,” according to the municipality.
But according to Jan de Vries of the Straat Consultaat, the contrast between the extremely expensive NATO summit and the treatment of homeless people “painfully exposes that the approach to homelessness is completely broken.” The gift voucher illustrates this, De Vries told the broadcaster. “It is apparently the only thing that is possible. But if there were as many resources available for tackling homelessness as for the NATO summit, we would be a lot further along towards a sustainable solution.”
The municipality of The Hague told Omroep West that the city has been offering extra help after having to move people for the NATO summit. “Not all people from the woods sleep there again,” a spokesperson said. He could not say how many people had been helped. “It is still too early for that. We are currently working on an inventory. In any case, discussions have been held to guide people to care, shelter, or home country.”
