Koggenland wants to build 120 flexible homes at two locations to combat the housing shortage in the municipality. Although the locations are not yet known, a first agreement was signed with Clean2Anywhere this afternoon. Edwin ter Velde’s company in Hoorn is supplying five houses made from waste plastic. Applicable in a flexible home that has already been built in the factory.
And that’s not all. A proposal for the purchase of another 25 of these flex homes will be discussed in the city council next month. Good news for home seekers, but also for Clean2Anywhere.
Many politicians have already visited Edwin ter Velde’s factory. But no matter how enthusiastic they were, it mainly remained with nice words. With this order, the factory restarts. And it is also good news for clients of the Werksaam benefit agency. They build the houses.
“By working in groups on a boat, you learn each other’s qualities, you learn to work together and persevere. And you experience that you are respected, that you count. Young people who have developed their talents on the boats can move on to the Tiny House factory for There are also young people who know what they want again through this process and return to school, or they move on to another job,” explains Werksaam director Marjolijn Dölle.
Built within months
The choice for the houses made of recycled material is a conscious one of the municipality, explains alderman Rosalien van Dolder, who recently visited Edwin ter Velde’s factory in Hoorn. “The passion for the product and the way it is made and the guts to be entrepreneurial and innovate appealed to me enormously. These houses make it possible to build quickly for a competitive price. And so a large number of homes can be built within a few months to be able to offer.”
But building quickly does not mean that they can be placed quickly, acknowledges mayor Monique Bonsen, who signed the contract. “There is a lot of enthusiasm in the municipality. The council wants to do it today rather than tomorrow. Of course it can meet with resistance, but we mainly see opportunities.” Whether the first houses are already there this year? “That seems a bit optimistic, but as soon as possible.”
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Young people are given priority
Ultimately, therefore, 120 flexible homes must be built at two locations. On land owned by Koggenland. Young people from the municipality are given priority, half of the homes in the first location are reserved for this target group.
“But we also look at other target groups. We also want to offer asylum status holders a place. There may also be Ukrainian refugees who want to stay, such as emergency seekers.” The mayor hopes that Koggenland will serve as an example for other municipalities. “It is wonderful what is happening here. It is sustainable, contributes to work and helps us with the challenges we face: a housing shortage. How beautiful do you want it to be?”
Two search areas have been designated as potential locations: Tuindersweijde in Obdam and Avenhorn. In principle, the flex homes will remain there for ten years and will be rented out by the municipal housing association.