The homeless Thomas has a place to sleep for the time being. The 33-year-old from Breda was put on the street for two months by the homeless shelter in his city. He can now live with the Bakels family in Tilburg for the remaining six weeks. The couple not only gives Thomas a roof over his head, but also helps him get his life back on track. “Thomas is very welcome.”
What happens to Thomas goes against everything the Bakels family stands for. They cannot believe that Thomas has just been put on the street by a homeless shelter. Even though he broke rules there. “Whatever someone does, you don’t knock anyone out on the street,” says Aernout Bakels.
The Breda lawyer Peter Schouten recently made a case for the homeless Thomas. That’s how he started Team Thomas. “A kind of intervention team that ensures that homeless people who come into contact with the government in this way are helped quickly. Thomas succeeded very quickly and I am very happy about that,” says Schouten.
“You have to help people in need, I learned that from my father and grandmother.”
The intervention team went to work and Thomas can go to the Bakels family from Friday. “We actually immediately said yes,” says Aernout. “If someone is at the door for help, we always open the door. You have to help people in need, you always give them a bed and food. I learned that from my father and grandmother.”
It is also a matter of faith, because Aernout and his wife Irene are born-again Christians. But that’s not a problem for Thomas. “I’m very happy with it,” he says. “I don’t care that they are religious because everyone has to know that for themselves. I met them and they are just very nice people.”
Thomas will simply join the Tilburg couple in their household. And therefore also living according to the house rules, although according to the family there is great freedom in the Bakels house. But they prefer not to smoke in the house, for example.
Thomas, who had some disciplinary problems at the homeless shelter, takes it for granted. “No rules have been spoken, but that is normal if you live together in a house.”
“We will do our very best to get Thomas’ life back on track.”
He is in luck, because Aernout and his wife are going to help him with more than just the roof over his head. “It is also a part of care and education,” says Aernout. “We are going to do our very best to get his life back on track. That Thomas gets a job and can see his daughter again.”
Matters that fit perfectly in the philosophy of Team Thomas of lawyer Peter Schouten. Aernout Bakels will therefore support the foundation financially through his company Breda Transport. “The idea is to roll out the concept widely and I am happy to contribute to that. For example, we are already working on a Team Thomas for Tilburg.”
Thomas will be in Tilburg for the foreseeable future, but will come to Breda once a week. On Thursday afternoon, he will continue to demonstrate on the Grote Markt for the time being against the policy of homeless shelters. “I don’t know if I will return after these six weeks, but others need it too,” said Thomas.
READ ALSO: People are put on the street too quickly at homeless shelter Breda
