A new family with status holders: fine. But allowing six minor single status holders – albeit under supervision – to live here, a number of residents of the hamlet of Lieven bij Beilen do not like that. They fear problem youth. And the municipality? He could have entered into discussions with local residents instead of first arranging the environmental permit.
In short, that is the criticism that can be heard in the hamlet, according to resident Bert Makken. Makken took the initiative to place two banners at the large white villa at De Lievening 2 and to hang up the short letter that the municipality sent to local residents on 21 July.
“Those six to eight young people come to live here under the guidance of Elker Jeugdhulp. We googled that organization and then you arrive at guiding young people with problems, such as those in Het Poortje in Groningen. We are afraid that they will cause problems here. There is nothing for them to do here. And young people attract young people, so we are afraid of nuisance.”
Deputy Mayor Rico Schans responds: “It is not automatically the case that all those young people have problems. Because they are minors, they have to live in assisted living. And we think the place is very suitable because there are few incentives here. If they are looking for entertainment then the center of Beilen is a 500 meter walk.”
Like many municipalities, Schans is faced with the enormous task of looking for housing for status holders, including unaccompanied minors. Space that is not or hardly there. Meanwhile, the asylum centers are full of status holders who no longer belong there but have not yet been allocated housing.
Neighboring Makken does have a solution. “A lot is empty on the mental health care site in Beilen, go there to house and guide those young people. And let another family with asylum status live in this villa. A Syrian family lived here, there were thirteen of them and there is nothing ever happened.”
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