This meant that the number was much higher than previously thought. “It was assumed that about half,” says Hil Rabenberg. He is director of dnoDoen, an organization that organizes the shelter and guidance of homeless people in Alkmaar.
“The reception capacity is not set up for this at all. In the winter we have room for 55 people in the 24-hour shelter. In addition, there are 66 places in the neighborhoods of Alkmaar. That is simply not enough.”
Creating more shelters is not the solution, Rabenberg thinks. “Then you’re just building up houses. There just needs to be more housing.”
More than half are young people
More than half of the more than six hundred homeless people are young people between the ages of 17 and 27. A huge number, says Rabenberg. “That is quite serious. That is why we also have special youth teams that deal with this. We want to fight to ensure that these young people get back on their feet.”