DWARS launches petition: Everyone A Roof Over Their Head

DWARS, together with The Good Cause and other political youth organisations, is launching the Everyone A Roof Over Their Heads petition.

2021 should be a turning point for homeless people. It must be the year that perspective is offered to these people by politicians. Political Youth Organisations, local leaders and civil society organisations agree. Homelessness must be tackled. Therefore, with the letter below, we ask the list leaders of various political parties to commit to really solving the problems of homeless people during the upcoming formation negotiations. The letter has already been signed by several politicians.

Read the entire petition here and sign this one! 📝

Everyone a roof over their heads

Best list leader,

A roof over your head is a basic need and a human right, enshrined in the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A home is a place where you can be warm and safe as well as a necessity for every citizen in this country, as you must have an address where the government can communicate with you. Between 2009 and 2019, the number of homeless people more than doubled. Namely, from 17,300 to 39,300 people. The number of young people in this has even tripled. Moreover, a whole new group has emerged: 'the working homeless'. They simply do not manage to find housing, even though they do have an income and no complex mental or addiction problems. This shows that anyone can become homeless. And it is not their fault, but the lack of sufficient affordable housing in the Netherlands.

This is truly unacceptable. We therefore ask you to stand firm during any coalition negotiations on behalf of this large group, which suffers hugely damaging consequences from not having a roof over their heads. This is what it takes to solve this problem:

1. Enter the Housing First-principle. In this way, we ensure that people have a safe home as well as appropriate care and counselling for problems they face. Make a home the very first condition on the road to recovery and give people a chance to get their lives on track;
2. Build additional houses and make sure they are affordable and future-proof. Make sure there is enough (social) housing available to accommodate people acutely. There are many homeless people who have enough income but are on housing associations' waiting lists. By creating more supply, we reduce the number of homeless people;
3. Scrap the landlord levy on housing associations. That way, we give them room to build and invest in much-needed housing for our homeless;
4. Create more capacity in flow-through facilities so that night shelters have more space to offer people a place to sleep at night;
5. As long as there are homeless people, facilitate permanent 24-hour winter shelters in municipalities so that no one has to sleep outside in winter;
6. Remove bureaucratic barriers, such as the cost-sharing standard, that lead to unreasonable outcomes and increase the risk of homelessness.

It cannot be explained that nearly 40,000 people in the Netherlands live without a roof over their heads. Now is the time to choose. Commit to policies that benefit everyone and make sure we can provide everyone in the Netherlands with their right to a roof over their heads.

Sander van der Goes - DWARS, GroenLinkse Youngsters

Andrej van Hout - JS, Young Socialists in the Labour Party

Léonie Janssen - JD, Young Democrats

Bina Chirino - PerspectieF, Christian Union Youth

Hielke Onnink - CDJA, CDA Youth

Xenia Minnaert - PINK! Politics

Arina Amma - RED, Young in the SP

Arie Rijneveld - SGPJ, SGP youths

Esra Kahramanoglu - Youth Movement Opposition

Linda Voortman, alderman for Utrecht

Maarten van Ooijen, alderman of Utrecht

Eelco Eerenberg, alderman of Utrecht

Stijn Steenbakkers, Alderman for Eindhoven

Renate Richters, Eindhoven alderman

Liesbeth van Tongeren, alderman of The Hague

Isabelle Diks, alderman of Groningen

Ronald Paping, Arnhem alderman

Cathelijne Bouwkamp, alderman Arnhem

Marie-Thérèse Meijs, alderman Haarlem

Noël Vergunst, alderman of Nijmegen

Cathalijne Dortmans, alderman Helmond

Marcelle Hendrickx, alderman of Tilburg

John Bankers, alderman Asten

Leo Bosland, Wageningen alderman

Peter de Haan, Wageningen alderman

Maud Hulshof, Wageningen alderman

Peter Heijkoop, alderman Dordrecht

Jakobien Groeneveld, alderman for Zoetermeer

Joa Maouche, alderman Renkum

Samir Bashara, alderman Hoorn

Erik Faber, alderman of Súdwest-Frylân

Geert Ritsema, alderman Ede

Joost Reus, alderman of Culemborg

Klaar Koenraad, alderman Roosendaal

Bert Wassink, alderman Leeuwarden

Matthijs Sikkes, alderman Diemen

Bart de Leede, alderman Vlaardingen

Paul Fransen, Bronckhorst alderman

Frans Langeveld, alderman Doetinchem

Erika Spil, alderman for Voorschoten

Anne Brommersma, alderman De Bilt

Laura Hoogstraten, alderman of Zeist

Tanja de Jonge, alderman Barendrecht

Nelson Verheul, councillor Berg en Dal

Nel Haarsma, Waadhoeke alderman

Lucienne Boelsma, alderman de Fryske Marren

Hetty Veneklaas, alderman Stichtse Vecht

Adri Totté, alderman of Hulst

Peter van Boekel, alderman Bernheze

Roland van Vugt, Alderman Altena

Klaas Valkering, alderman Bergen

Jack Begijn, alderman of Terneuzen

Anjo Simonse, alderman Noordoostpolder

Bert Fintelman, Heerhugowaard alderman

Matthijs van Oosten, Alderman Altena

Jan Kuiper, alderman of Nieuwegein

Jeffrey van Agtmaal, Woensdrecht alderman

Bert Rebel, alderman of Huizen

Piet Vreugdenhil, alderman

Albert Abee, alderman

Rik Grashoff, former alderman & member of parliament

Valente, Trade association for participation, guidance and safe care

The Rainbow Group

Stichting Zwerfjongeren Nederland

Kessler Foundation

The Good Cause

The Housing Association

Bond Precarious Housing

The Salvation Army

Aedes, Association of Housing Associations