1/2 Frank (39) lives along the A50 (photo: Noël van Hooft).
There is a caravan with an awning on a deserted parallel road next to the A50 near Uden. 39-year-old Frank has been living there for two weeks. It is his last place for the time being since he was evicted from his house two months ago due to rent arrears. Since then, Frank has been wandering through Uden with his caravan and four cats. But nowhere does he find a permanent place. He is sent away every time. He refuses emergency shelter because of his pets. “I can’t go much further than this or they will have to take my caravan.”
Frank’s rent arrears had risen to nine months. Then the Area housing association decided it had had enough and he was evicted. He rented from Area for eleven years, including six years under the watchful eye of an administrator. “But not all my debts were cleared,” says Frank.
“I’m past all shame now.”
Initially, Frank was able to live with his sister, but he had to leave there on November 28. “I bought her caravan with my last few hundred euros. I moved it by hand. Then I moved in. Initially without heating and shower.” But soon he had to leave.
“I was standing in the parking lot of De Maashorst Nature Center. But I wasn’t allowed to stay there either. The owner towed the caravan to this spot along the A50 with his car.” Not an ideal place because of the noise, but Frank is not a bother to anyone here. “I’m making a fool of myself here, it’s really monkey watching.” Frank is also seen on Tuesday morning and people honk at him. “I’m past all shame now.”
According to Frank, the municipality of Maashorst, which includes Uden, is discussing his situation. An offer has been made to arrange a place in the Verdi House. That is a location for crisis care. But Frank definitely doesn’t want that. “Then my four cats won’t be allowed to come along and I will soon be among addicts and people with other problems. My cats have to come with me, they have to stay mine.” An employee of the Verdihuis confirms that pets are not allowed.
“I lost everything within two weeks.”
In the meantime, problems continue to pile up for Frank. In addition to his outstanding rent debt and wandering around with the caravan, he has lost his job and car. “I lost everything within two weeks. My employer didn’t want me to bring my problems to work so I was out. And the car was from work.” And because Frank has no postal address, he also does not receive benefits.
But he has a positive outlook on life. “I made a wood stove in the caravan. And with the help of a bucket of water on the roof I can shower inside. Not ideal, but it is possible.” The extreme cold of a few weeks ago was tough. “I lay in a thick sleeping bag with my four cats to keep each other warm. I’m really counting down to the summer months, although I also hope for a solution by then.”
Frank is not looking for new work now, first he wants a place to live. “If I apply now, they will choose someone with a postal address and I will be rejected immediately.” He spends his days gathering wood, tapping water in the woods along the A50 and washing his clothes. “And the neighborhood sometimes comes to help me. Recently someone brought us some delicious food.”
Housing association Area was unavailable for comment on Tuesday afternoon. The municipality of Maashorst has announced that it does not make any announcements about personal situations such as these.
