Assen is tightening the reins on new care initiatives in neighborhoods and neighborhoods. This should prevent too many healthcare clients from gathering together at certain locations in the city and causing nuisance in the neighborhood.
As of January 1, healthcare parties will therefore have to face a strict preliminary test for a new initiative. As soon as they see a building in Assen that will provide care, the municipality first checks whether the intended location is suitable. The quality of the healthcare company is also measured.
Experiences from the recent past have taught the municipality that many care initiatives together in the same neighborhood cause a lot of unrest. And that affects the quality of life in a neighborhood. “The municipality pays attention to what a neighborhood can handle. If there are too many healthcare facilities in a neighborhood, this can put too much burden on local residents in that neighborhood and significantly affect the quality of life,” according to the mayor and aldermen.
On the one hand, Assen feels like a real healthcare city. And according to the municipality, new healthcare parties are good for employment and meet healthcare needs. But guiding or housing confused people or people with difficult behavior can ultimately have a negative impact on a residential neighborhood.
To avoid hassle in the neighborhood, the city council wants to take a closer look, with certain criteria in hand, from now on to see whether the care initiative fits in with the city, and if so, where. According to the city council, healthcare companies and their residents benefit from a good relationship with the neighborhood.
The new assessment criteria have therefore been drawn up in consultation with the healthcare companies. Based on this, the municipality works with the healthcare provider to determine the best location. If there are already too many care initiatives in a particular neighborhood, Assen can reject the location.
According to councilor Jan Broekema (SP), the new approach must ensure ‘that care and living in neighborhoods go well together’. “The assessment framework initiates a robust discussion with new healthcare parties. Does the organization fit in that location, has thought been given to collaboration with the neighborhood, and what are the agreements in the event of nuisance? In this way, we work on neighborhoods and neighborhoods where healthcare and housing go well together. .”
Assen has had to deal with a lot of resistance to new healthcare initiatives in recent years. For example, there was unrest around buildings in Beilerstraat, where many healthcare companies are already located, and where more were at risk. The feared healthcare projects ultimately did not go ahead. A special housing project in Julianastraat was also canceled after the neighborhood protested.
Several healthcare institutions are also located in Klenckestraat. The neighborhood, which regularly complains about nuisance, believes that the limit has been reached. And in the Baggelhuizen district, an assisted living project by the Salvation Army initially caused a lot of commotion. After persistent protests from local residents, the number of available houses was reduced in consultation with the municipality and housing rental company Actium.