Charlotte helps homeless families find a home

One of the most important things in life is having a roof over your head. A safe haven where you can always turn to. Yet, there are many people in the Netherlands who do not have such a safe haven. That is why Charlotte decided to become a volunteer at De Regenboog Groep, an organization that stands up for vulnerable residents of Amsterdam. Every week, Charlotte volunteers to help homeless families find housing: “It is very valuable to help people find their own safe place.”

A special ‘house’

Together with Charlotte, I take a seat in the so-called ‘house’: a small office in the middle of PostOost, the participation center in Amsterdam-East. The place exudes calm, peace, and openness. And that’s not the only special thing about this place. Every Thursday, Charlotte speaks to a number of homeless families in their search for their own home in this ‘house’. “Every week I see about four families. After an introductory conversation, we embark on the process together to find a suitable home, and then we start applying for different homes throughout the Netherlands. It is a first step towards a safe home. I usually see mothers with children from Suriname or Ghana. In many cases, these families have been persuaded by relatives to come to the Netherlands. They may stay with family for a while, but there often comes a time when they have to leave. Then they end up on the street and have to find a new place.”

“If I am going to do volunteer work, it will be with De Regenboog Groep.”

“During National Volunteer Day, De Regenboog Groep organized an open day which I attended. This inspired me, and I found it particularly special to see the good work they were doing there. At that time, I was still working in politics, but when I stopped in 2010, I was asked to join the Board of Trustees of De Regenboog Groep. Unfortunately, after seven years, I had to stop working due to a serious illness. At that time, I told the director that if I ever did volunteer work, it would be at De Regenboog Groep. That moment came three years later in 2020. I explored the possibilities and now I have been working here as a volunteer for two years.”

The most beautiful experience ever

“I think this is my most beautiful experience so far,” Charlotte tells me when I ask her what this volunteer work has brought her so far. “I know what it’s like to have a nice home myself, and it’s valuable when you can help others to achieve this too. Moreover, it’s amazing to see when families start to enjoy the process itself. When they realize that they are moving up the list each time and getting closer to a home, it’s not just about the home, but also about the process that excites them. I have always enjoyed searching for homes myself, for example, a room in Amsterdam for my children and a house to buy for friends. I don’t know why I enjoy this so much, but I think it’s because of the perspective that the chance of a home can offer. I am convinced that you should be happy with the volunteer work you do, otherwise you won’t be able to keep it up. You can only give when you take good care of yourself, when you feel good. Then you can also make a difference for others.”

‘Sometimes there is discrimination’

The work, besides its beautiful aspects, also presents a number of challenges. “How is it possible that a family that has been registered for two months is already in 17th place on the list for a house, while a lady who has been registered much longer keeps getting passed over? Sometimes you don’t understand how things work or you try very hard, but still can’t find a good home. That can be frustrating. Moreover, there is still a lot of discrimination. Once, in the search for a home, it was said: ‘but you do understand that we are a very close-knit community, that the neighbors will check if you open the curtains in the morning and place the trash container in the right place and time. We do practice social control in our municipality,’ such things are very harsh.” However, the beautiful moments prevail, and one of those moments Charlotte will never forget: “That was when I helped a father from French Guiana find a home. At one point, we had found a very nice house with spacious rooms and a balcony on the south side. He was so grateful for this that he decided to invite me and my partner. He also asked his family from Amsterdam to come, and we had a great evening with delicious Surinamese dishes.”

Coloring outside the lines

When Charlotte sets her mind to something, she sinks her teeth into it until she succeeds. That is also the case with this volunteer work. “This volunteer work gives me the opportunity to push the boundaries or color just outside the lines. Where social workers sometimes have limited options, as a volunteer I can do a little more. For example, I would like to ask the housing association how it is possible that some people almost have a home after two months while others still have no prospect of a home after a very long time. Additionally, there are still many things going wrong in the Netherlands, it is absurd that mothers with young children end up on the streets. This is partly due to the policies. Perhaps I can delve even deeper into this in the future.” One thing is for sure: Charlotte is not stopping this volunteer work anytime soon.

Interested in doing volunteer work?

That can atThe Rainbow Group.Through us, you can find more than 1500 jobs in Amsterdam. For every talent and schedule.Search online or make an appointment with one of our mediators.Interview: Kiki DuseboutPhoto: Huub Zeeman