The municipality of Westerveld takes more than three tons to help the village houses in the municipality. The subsidy comes on top of the fixed amount that the organization Welfare Human Work receives from the municipality annually.
The money is intended for the village houses in Geeuwenbrug, Darp, Havelte, Wapserveen and Uffelte. Welfare People Work is responsible for the management and use of this.
In previous years, the village houses also received extra money. That then involved incidental subsidies such as energy compensation.
Due to the high energy costs and the collective labor agreement increase of the staff, the organization desperately needs the additional money. For example, the organization was short of money in 2023 and 2024 and the budget was not conclusive. Cuts are necessary without extra money.
“They were very constructive conversations with the municipality,” says director-director Walraad of Dalen of Welzijn Menswerk. “She sees the importance of village houses: an important part of the social basis. You don’t have to fiddle too much about that.”
With the money, Welfare is going to pay human work ongoing, carrying out maintenance and making the accommodations more sustainable. In the coming years, the organization also wants to build the ‘best construction’ for every village house together with residents of the villages and the municipality.