According to the municipal spokesperson, the fact that Assen undertakes with this COA deal to allocate at least 48 houses per year to status holders for ten years does not differ much from the current legal obligation when it comes to housing status holders in the city. “Maybe the number is even slightly less,” Beuker predicts.
“Just like every municipality, we are told annually by the government how many status holders we have to offer a house: the so-called statutory target. For this year that is 152 status holders. We have come a long way, but for 33 status holders it is still We did not succeed. But we are not unique in that. A home must be found for the whole of Drenthe for 499 status holders, of which 382 have been built.”
According to Beuker, it does not matter for the next ten years whether Assen has to arrange 48 houses for status holders every year, or whether it is given a legal task for around 160 status holders. “That almost amounts to the same thing. Because in one case there may be a house for a family with four members, but it could just as well be two.”
According to the mayor and aldermen, the generous flex housing deal with COA does not mean that the entire Groene Dijk project with around 160 flex housing is now definitively completed. “We have signed with the COA for the purchase of the 96 flex homes. This is not yet a decision on whether or not to continue with the Groene Dijk flex project.”
The rest of the flexible housing comes from the Actium housing association. They are still figuring out what kind of flexible housing they will build and how they will finance it. There will only be a design plan later. But the municipality must sign for the COA’s offer for the 96 homes no later than this month, otherwise it will miss out on the lucrative deal. Assen already has an exceptional position in this regard, as other municipalities had to sign before October 1.
On Thursday, December 21, the Asser council will decide on the financing agreement with COA for the 96 flex homes.