Gerwin Kivits would like to vote for the Provincial Council and the Water Board on March 15, but he cannot. Simply because he has no permanent place of residence or residence and therefore no address where his voting cards can go. But that’s not his only problem: “I can’t do anything at the moment and want so much. I’m constantly being sent from pillar to post.”
Gerwin Kivits has been wandering through the Netherlands for over two years. Born in Vriezenveen in Overijssel, he moved to Brabant for love. He is now temporarily staying at a campsite in Lith.
Living together with his girlfriend in Oss is a scenario that Gerwin often thinks about. “I don’t want to do that to her now. When we met years ago, we made an appointment. Only when I have my life on track will we start living together.”
According to Gerwin, that could take a while. “My benefits were stopped in mid-December. That didn’t make the situation any better.”
According to Gerwin, the biggest problem is that he is no longer registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). It contains all personal data of residents of the Netherlands.
“I think I have been deregistered because I have no permanent place of residence or residence. That is why I do not receive voting passes for the water board elections and the Provincial Council elections, because the municipality does not know where to go.”
“They may just send me away from here.”
Gerwin prefers not to call himself homeless. “I’m only homeless, but there is a chance that I will become homeless.” The Twente native is afraid that he will be sent away from the campsite in Lith. “Don’t get me wrong, I understand very well if they send me away now. I can barely pay the rent because I can’t work enough as a temp.”
Gerwin would prefer to work as a taxi driver, but because of his living situation that is not possible either.
“Just like applying for voting passes, it is not possible for me to apply for a VOG, a Declaration on Behavior. I had a job application at a taxi company, but that failed because of this.” The VOG is sent to the address at which someone is registered in the BRP.
“We don’t want to move in together until I’ve got my life together.”
Next year, Gerwin hopes that he will have his life back on track and that he will be able to vote again. “I can’t see the wood for the trees anymore. I really need all the help I can get.”