The plan to house eight long-term homeless people on the Schietbaanweg in Emmen is met with fierce resistance. Residents of the caravan camp and the village of Westenesch are afraid of nuisance and unsafe situations.
They also feel overwhelmed by the plans. This became apparent on Monday during two information meetings in which the municipality, the Salvation Army, Verslavingszorg Noord-Nederland (VNN) and housing corporation Domesta provided explanations. Westenesch is an open area with open gardens. So soon an ideal shopping center for junkies to grab what they can use, “said a resident of Westenesch. “A lot of people don’t want this. How many people must the municipality have against it to not let the plan go through?”, another wondered in despair.
Hemp farm
Two weeks ago, alderman Dewy Leal (Wakker Emmen) announced that after seven years Emmen has finally found a suitable place where she can house long-term homeless people in a ‘stimulant-poor’ environment. It concerns a site with a house on the Schietbaanweg, right next to the Friesland route and near the Orange Canal. About two years ago, a large underground cannabis nursery was rolled up there and there are currently squatters in the house. Those squatters are leaving and the municipality wants to have eight units or tiny houses built on the site where long-term homeless people can live. Under the supervision of the Salvation Army and VNN.
According to the municipality, the place is suitable because there are no houses very close by and the walking distance to the center is short. Many residents of the village of Westenesch and the trailer park think completely differently. “If you go along the Orange Canal under the viaduct, you are already in Westenesch. What do you mean a good distance from other houses?” argued one of those present during the well-attended information meetings. “The safety of our children. What about that? We are very concerned about that,” said a resident of the trailer park, which is roughly a kilometer away from the intended location.
Low stimulus
The target group is unable to live independently in a neighborhood due to addiction and/or psychiatric and psychosocial problems. These people also get stuck in institutions for assisted living. The Salvation Army and VNN expect that it would be better for everyone if this specific group were to live in a ‘low-stimulus’ environment under supervision. Both organizations also take care of the selection from about thirty long-term homeless people. “We know them.”
Alderman Leal promised that there will be a maximum of eight units for eight people and certainly no more. It didn’t take away the concern in the neighborhood. There is a fear, among other things, that the location will attract more people with problems. The fact that care is available 24 hours a day, but not constantly monitored, also raised many eyebrows. In addition, there was still annoyance that the municipality would have ‘hijacked’ the site with the house for the auction for other enthusiasts.