The arrival of status holders in apartment complex De Noorderkroon in Roden is not yet a foregone conclusion. The municipality of Noordenveld announced on the evening before King’s Day that 16 apartments will be available for status holders (refugees with a residence permit). Stichting Noorderkroon – responsible for the management of the apartment complex and the surrounding bungalows – has so far refused to comment.
“It seemed like a fait accompli, but that is not the case,” says foundation chairman Roelof Houwing. The message from the municipality of Noordenveld, which was distributed on the evening before King’s Day at ten to ten in the evening, went down the wrong way with Houwing. “The municipality has admitted that it was not convenient to communicate. But we are now in respectful consultation with the municipality and Woonborg.”
The conversation may be respectful, Houwing does not think that sixteen apartments will actually be occupied by status holders. “It does not fit in with the type of habitation that we have in mind.”
De Noorderkroon is mainly home to elderly people who need care. In a so-called ‘perpetual clause’ (an agreement between seller and buyer of a building, ed.) it is arranged that the foundation may set requirements for the occupancy that will be built there. One of those requirements is that new residents must be 55 years or older. “If an Afghan couple reports and meets the requirements, we will certainly not stop that. But we do not want a situation in which people who are being nursed are mixed with residents who do not fit in with the ideas of De Noorderkroon.”
Ipema also believes that the talks are going well. She hopes that there will be a plan that all parties can support. “I think there will be something that we can all be satisfied with. We now want to provide clarity to the environment as soon as possible. We hope to be able to communicate about this next week.”
It is very important to the municipality of Noordenveld to quickly find places for status holders. This year alone, 90 places are to be realized. “The Noorderkroon is not the solution for everything”, says Ipema. “We have to house people in different places and in different ways. We also look at flexible housing.”
The alderman emphasizes that other places in the municipality are also being looked at. “But we also want to come out with De Noorderkroon. Both with the foundation, as well as with the residents and staff of Zorggroep Drenthe.”
Whether that will succeed is therefore very much the question. “We will continue to consult, but that does not mean that we are or will be in agreement,” says Houwing.