Do you want to help homeless people with economic challenges?

A job, a family, but no roof over your head. The shortage of affordable and accessible rental housing is leading to an increase in the number of economically homeless individuals. In Amsterdam, De Regenboog Groep has started a pilot project to help this group with the assistance of volunteers.In the Netherlands, there is a rapidly growing group of ‘economically homeless’. These are people who do not have a roof over their heads due to events in their lives such as divorce, unemployment, and bankruptcy. They usually still have a job, sleep on friends’ couches, in their cars, or in temporary housing. The main cause of economic homelessness is the shortage of affordable rental housing. The risk for these homeless individuals is ‘slipping’ and ultimately developing more problems from living on the streets.

The Rainbow Group (DRG) is one of the organizations that provides homeless shelter in Amsterdam. They work in the city to support this rapidly growing group among the homeless.

Currently, there are between 2200 and 3000 economically homeless individuals in Amsterdam.

Theo van Ghesel Grothe, project leader of Economic Homeless Companions at DRG: “Currently, there are between 2200 and 3000 economically homeless individuals in Amsterdam. They usually do not qualify for social work support, as it is intended for people with addiction or psychiatric problems. Over 1100 of them sought help in 2020 at one of the seven neighborhood support centers of The Rainbow Group. These people need help, which is why we have started a pilot project with the involvement of volunteer neighbors.”

Volunteers provide support in finding emotional stability and housing. They assist with administrative matters and offer a listening ear.

Neighbors who volunteer are first trained and then carefully matched with a homeless individual. They provide support in finding emotional stability and housing. They assist with administrative matters and offer a listening ear.

The goal of the pilot project is primarily to increase the chances of sustainable recovery and permanent housing. Additionally, DRG aims to combat stigmatization and set an example of volunteer-led assistance.

Do you want to help?

Are you interested in participating as a volunteer in this pilot project? At the moment, DRG is looking for residents from Zuidoost, Centrum, and Oud-West. The vacancies are listed on the job board of Vrijwilligers Centrale Amsterdam:

• Support an economic homeless person in Southeast.
• Support an economic homeless person in the Center
• Support an economic homeless person in Oud-West