Kerkrade municipality continues work on shelter and sheltered housing

On July 6, the Implementation Agenda for Care and Protected Living 2021-2022 was adopted. This was done by all the colleges of the Parkstad region, including the college of the Municipality of Kerkrade.

Social welfare

The Parkstad municipalities work closely together to prevent people from having no roof over their heads. In addition, the Parkstad municipalities provide social relief and sheltered housing. People who have become homeless can go to the improved shelter. This is organized on a small scale where possible, spread throughout Parkstad.

Regular housing is not an option for all people. For them, there are protected housing options, including from Mondriaan, Levanto and the Salvation Army. There will also be Skaeve huse: simple independent quiet housing units with customized guidance. These too will be scattered throughout Parkstad.

Prevention also occupies an important place within the implementation agenda: how can we better prevent people from becoming homeless? The social services in Parkstad will make more cooperation agreements, among other things to prevent people from getting into financial problems after moving within Parkstad because applying for benefits takes too long. There will also be intensive efforts to identify people with debts early and offer help.

From 2023, the budget that municipalities receive from the state for protected living will be redistributed. In order to continue caring for these vulnerable citizens in the future, further cooperation agreements will be made between the municipalities.

New initiatives for young people

It is important that young people who are vulnerable, for example because of problems in the home situation or because they were living in a youth care facility, are supported in their development toward independence even after the age of ¹⁸.

In addition to sheltered housing, there will also be forms of assisted living for young people to ensure that young people can take that last step toward independence well.

There will also be a new shelter for homeless youth in Kerkrade in the form of the Credo House. Within the Credohuis there will be 6 places for these young people. The Credohuis approach is characterized by an innovative participation of citizens (volunteers) and entrepreneurs, who together take responsibility to make effective small-scale shelter possible. 

Alderman Jongen (Social Health): "With the new Credo House in Kerkrade, our municipality and the municipality of Heerlen are making a joint commitment to young people who do not have a roof over their heads. This group is often overlooked, but it is there. In addition, the 'Credo meets' program is also committed to connecting with the neighborhood."