Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven and Groningen: ban on prioritizing status holders will lead to accumulation of problems

This measure leads to an unmanageable task for municipalities. Without the ability to prioritize status holders for social housing, the flow from shelters will stagnate. This leads to overcrowded shelters (one in three people in the shelters are already status holders), and thus high costs and more people on the streets. This results in less livability and safety in our cities, and high costs for social care. 

The housing shortage in our cities is not caused by too many status holders but by a lack of social housing. The solution to this problem lies there: require all municipalities to build at least 30% of new construction as social housing. Blaming people in a very vulnerable position is inhumane.

Dennis de Vries, alderman for Housing: “What is happening here is that groups of people are being pitted against each other. The government creates the impression that, in these times of housing scarcity, status holders are running off with ‘our’ homes. Apart from the fact that in a city like Utrecht only a limited part of the available homes is allocated to status holders, this ignores the real problem: a broken housing market, where not enough affordable homes have been built for years. Housing is a fundamental right. The fact that the government fails to secure it is now being shifted onto status holders – a scapegoat for its own failures.”

A stable living situation is essential to build an independent life, to start integrating and working, and to contribute to society. Without stable housing, the chance of long-term dependence on social services increases, which is not good for both society and the status holder. It is incomprehensible that the cabinet is aiming for this and shifts the negative effects to municipalities. 

Rachel Streefland, alderman for Asylum and Integration: “Shelters are filling up even faster this way, and people are denied the opportunity to start integrating and build their future and participation in our society. Apart from whether or not a legally prescribed target is met, the impact of this decision on the people it concerns is my greatest concern.”

Therefore, the municipality of Utrecht also opposes the cabinet’s decision: “It is not humane, it creates major social problems, while the real problem – the housing shortage – is not being solved. That will also be Utrecht’s input during the consultation, which is now starting. Of course, it is ultimately up to the House of Representatives to decide, but let our position be clear: as far as we are concerned, this proposal should be taken off the table today.”