It seemed that the De Nieuwe Ark residential group in Bloemendaal would be on the street with its contents this Sunday. The four residents with disabilities and their two informal caregivers now have a roof over their heads. It’s a stopgap, but they can stay together – and that’s the most important thing for now.
The residential group was allowed to use the Pelletier house, which is owned by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, for about seven years. But the owner wants to sell the property. The residents received heard at the beginning of this year that they had to move on May 31.
But where to?
Things became increasingly tense for the group and the municipality did not come up with a suitable solution. The most important requirement for the residents was that they could continue to live together, and preferably in the neighborhood. “We have built up a large network here in recent years. Our residents are really friends with all the volunteers,” resident Anouk previously told NH.
Now there appears to be a temporary solution: a private provider has two apartments in the same stairwell available from July 10. It is an ’emergency solution’, emphasizes Lisette Tel, foster mother of resident Ilse. “We can’t afford this for more than a year, maybe two years.”
Postponed move
Because May 31 is no longer feasible and the group would literally be on the street, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd have agreed to a postponed deadline of July 1.
Last week, the alderman approved the plan to temporarily accommodate the residential group in the apartments in the Veen en Duin neighborhood.
Permanent solution in sight
For a permanent solution, the association is looking at the Brederode housing association, which can probably make two apartments available in the area.
Both houses are very close to the Pelletier house, where the residents lived for seven years. And that is very good news, Lisette says cheerfully. “It is nice for both residents and volunteers that we remain in Bloemendaal. This way our network remains the same.”
NH previously visited the residential group in Bloemendaal. View the report below.
