News item | 13-05-2026 | 07:00
The government is investing €120 million in the construction of new housing for the elderly. From May 18, two subsidy schemes will open that support housing associations and healthcare organizations in the construction of homes for the elderly, by contributing to more meeting spaces and making homes suitable for care. This concerns both new construction and modifications to existing buildings. The incentive is important to ensure sufficient suitable housing for the growing group of elderly people.
In the period up to and including 2030, 290,000 additional homes for the elderly must be built. Ministers Mirjam Sterk (Long-Term Care, Youth and Sport) and Elanor Boekholt-O’Sullivan (Public Housing and Spatial Planning) are working together on this task and are encouraging construction with various financial schemes, among other things. The supply of suitable housing is still often too limited. If elderly people can more easily find a home that suits their situation, homes will also become available for other home seekers. This improves the flow on the housing market and gives all home seekers a better chance of finding a home.
Meeting central
Many people prefer to live at home for as long as possible, even if they need more help. A nice place to live, where people meet and care about each other, helps with this. For example, a complex where people with and without care needs live together. This creates a caring community where the elderly can easily continue to live independently.
With an investment of approximately €40 million in the Incentive Scheme for Meeting Spaces in Housing for the Elderly (SOO) The government encourages the construction of shared meeting spaces in clustered housing for the elderly. Housing associations, market parties, healthcare institutions and citizens’ initiatives can submit an application. There is a lot of demand for the scheme. In previous rounds, the number of applications exceeded the available budget. That is why the budget has been increased this round.
Affordable housing suitable for healthcare
The government is making €80 million available for a new round of the Incentive Scheme for Care-Suitable Homes (SZGW). This subsidy encourages the construction of homes where residents can receive more intensive care, for example for dementia.
The subsidy is intended for housing associations and healthcare providers that build social rental housing suitable for care or renovate existing complexes. The homes must be suitable for wheelchair use, with a spacious bathroom, sufficiently wide corridors and access doors. Care-suitable homes are more expensive than regular social housing because, among other things, more space is needed for caregivers and turning circles for wheelchairs. The subsidy reimburses part of these extra costs.
Renew subsidy schemes
Both subsidy schemes are open until December 18, 2026. The schemes are well matched in terms of content and reinforce each other in increasing a suitable housing supply for the elderly. An application can often be made for a project from both schemes. For this reason, the application period for both schemes has been coordinated and consideration is being given to how these schemes can be further linked.
