Eindhoven will temporarily receive 65 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and forty status holders. The groups will live in Hotel Glow and hotel-restaurant Dirven on the Keizersgracht in the center of the city.
The shelter is currently for one year. In total, Eindhoven wants to create nine hundred extra reception places for refugees.
Local residents have previously criticized the plans. The location would not be the safest, especially for younger refugees. The area suffers from drug abuse and there are homeless people hanging around.
More amenities
By involving a second building in the reception, the municipality believes that it will be able to offer the younger refugees several facilities. For example, a separate outdoor area, a kitchen and common areas for recreation and daytime activities. The municipality also provides security, supervision and guidance. Daytime activities are provided by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
The COA is responsible for the reception location. The unaccompanied minor asylum seekers are young people from Syria, Eritrea, Somalia and Yemen between the ages of 15 and 18 who “have a very high chance of being allowed to stay in the Netherlands”, according to the municipality. The status holders are mainly couples who already have a residence permit.
Good experiences
According to the municipality, COA has had good experiences with combining both groups. “The adult status holders can share their experiences, exercise social control and help to familiarize the young people,” the municipality says.
The municipality expects the shelter to open for a year in mid-September. A possible extension will only take place after consultation with local residents, entrepreneurs and other parties involved.