The municipality of Emmen wants to house eight long-term homeless people on the Schietbaanweg. It concerns an area near the Friesland route where a large underground cannabis nursery was rolled up just under two years ago.
The plot, which also includes a house, was recently offered through a public auction. The municipality of Emmen made an offer that was accepted by the bank. According to alderman Dewy Leal (Wakker Emmen), the site is extremely suitable for homeless people who need a low-stimulus environment and get stuck in other places. There are no other houses in the immediate vicinity and the Emmer center with all its amenities is within walking distance.
“We’ve been looking for a place like that for about seven years,” Leal said. The idea is to place eight residential units on the large site behind the house, which will be rented out by housing corporation Domesta. The Salvation Army and Verslavingszorg Noord-Nederland (VNN) are responsible for guiding the future residents, supervising and being closely involved in the selection. Leal: ,,Everyone is entitled to a roof over their head, including this group that we also call birds of paradise. Vulnerable people who are homeless for a long time.”
Now squatters
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. “Together with Domesta, the Salvation Army and VNN, we want to give them a place where they can be themselves and thus be better able to recover from their years of homelessness.” “The site is remote and the Friesland route forms a clear separation between the plot and the village of Westenesch.”
The building on the site is already inhabited. Some squatters have moved in after the police rolled up the cannabis farm. They should eventually disappear. In the current plans, the building is maintained for the guidance of future residents by the Salvation Army and VNN. From a procedural point of view, quite a few steps still have to be taken before the units can be placed and the preliminary relief judge must also approve the purchase of the plot. ,,This year we will certainly not be able to implement the plan yet, we hope for next year”, said Leal.
More than 90,000 euros
When the hemp nursery was rolled up, the police found almost 800 cannabis plants, 1800 cuttings and 63 kilos of harvested hemp on the site in 2021. Emmen then had things cleaned up there and then initiated proceedings against the owner to recover the costs, more than 90,000 euros. That procedure is still ongoing, according to the municipality, which indicates that it is not the only creditor of the man. It is not yet clear what the municipality wants to pay for the site.