The municipalities of Stede Broec, Enkhuizen and Drechterland have jointly designated two locations where some 250 refugees from Ukraine will be accommodated for a longer period of time. It concerns Voetakkers 6 in Lutjebroek and De
Shire 105 in Hoogkarspel.
This concerns 180 residential units, which have already been ordered. All units will be installed within three months – in July and August at the earliest – and will have their own sanitary facilities. And that time is needed to prepare the site for construction, to install utilities and to furnish the units.
The ready-made houses offer a place to sleep for about a year. The group will be divided over both locations and the one in Lutjebroek will open first.
The costs are shared by the three municipalities. But why are residential units chosen? “We don’t have empty offices or a residential care complex. That’s why we eyed them. They are efficient, quick and easy to assemble. They are also very popular, so we had to act quickly,” says Eduard van Zuijlen, mayor of Enkhuizen.
If more shelters are needed in the long run, the ice rink in Enkhuizen will be transformed into a shelter where residential units can also be placed.
This is the location in Lutjebroek where the residential units should be – article continues below the photo:
By placing these temporary units, the municipalities contribute to the task of the central government to find locations where families from Ukraine can stay for a longer period of time.
Safe accommodation
“The situation in Ukraine affects us all. And in a crisis you have to act quickly. War refugees from Ukraine come from life-threatening situations and that is why we offer them a safe shelter,” explains Mayor Michiel Pijl of Drechterland. “Together we take the responsibility to provide them with a good shelter, with education, care if necessary, and where possible work and income.”
This will not put pressure on the dire housing market. The reception for refugees from Ukraine is coordinated outside the existing housing stock. “This is to ensure that home seekers within the SED municipalities are not left out,” he says.