It is well known that asylum reception in the Netherlands is coming to a standstill. Asylum seekers sleep outside in Ter Apel every day. Asylum seekers who are allowed to stay and therefore have a residence permit, do not get a home, and so they again occupy places in the asylum seekers’ centres.
In order to get the flow going, COA and the Ministry of Justice and Security have concluded lease agreements with several Van der Valk hotels for temporary accommodation. “We had received through a detour that they also come to our municipality. We then contacted COA ourselves and had a meeting on Tuesday. The councilors were later informed. After that, we took the information facilities to our own citizens, whom we know best after all. We have now sent a letter to local residents, made all information public and placed a page with questions and answers on our website,” explains the municipal spokeswoman.
Concept
The college was of course surprised, according to the letter. Surprised that the COA had not contacted. But that doesn’t mean the college is going to stop now. “There is also understanding for the COA’s search for solutions. In the coming period, the Board will submit questions and practical matters and will continue to discuss this with COA. Attention is also drawn to safety and the provision of information to local residents in the coming period. ”
The municipality emphasizes that these are not asylum seekers, but status holders. 38 rooms have been rented in the hotel, which means there is room for a hundred people. Some of it is about families. They will not stay permanently in Purmerend, but will later move on to another reception location or a home elsewhere in the country.
The COA takes care of the reception and guidance of these people during their short stay in the hotel. Most people have their own day and education program: they continue this during the weeks that they stay in the hotel. In addition, COA is responsible for matters such as security, care, interpreting, daytime activities and food. Everything is aimed at ensuring that people move on from this hotel shelter after a few weeks.
In the Zaanstreek, a temporary emergency shelter for more than 200 asylum seekers has now been realized in the sports hall of Assendelft.