Hoogeveen will make approximately five million euros available in the coming years to combat poverty. In this way, the municipality hopes to significantly reduce the number of people living below the poverty line.
The plan is to reduce this by fifteen percent within five years. Hoogeveen also aims to make fifteen households less dependent on schemes and benefits per year. These are a number of things that the municipal council has laid down in the new approach to combating poverty.
Hoogeveen wants to take major steps to combat poverty. In the municipality, 7 percent of households are struggling with problematic debts. Of all people aged 17 and older, 35 percent do not have a starting qualification. “Too many people in our municipality have to deal with financial worries every day,” explains councilor Jeroen Westendorp. “We really want to change that with this approach.”
For example, there will be a special pilot to help young adults with families. People who receive benefits and then find work are often unable to continue using financial arrangements. “This is not motivating,” Hoogeveen writes. Money problems therefore persist. That is why the municipal council wants to compensate young parents with children for lost allowances when they go to work.
Hoogeveen also wants to start budget lessons for children. According to the municipality, it is important that children learn to deal with money at a young age. “Many children don’t know how much they have to spend.” That could cause problems when they turn eighteen and have to fend for themselves. The budget lessons are intended to prevent that.
The municipality also wants to adjust the conditions for eligibility for minimum schemes. To take advantage of this, you may not earn more than 110 percent of the minimum income. Hoogeveen wants to change that to 120 percent. The municipal council hopes that this will ensure that people can continue to use various schemes and that problems will not be further exacerbated.
A special participation pass should ensure that Hoogeven residents with a smaller wallet can still participate in social and cultural activities. The pass also provides access to an online store. People with a minimum income can spend an amount there, determined by the municipality, for outings, products and, for example, memberships to sports clubs.
In a trial, a social professional goes into neighborhoods to examine the problems surrounding poverty. The person will have conversations with residents and find out what kind of requests for help there are and then look for solutions.