Three Dutch municipalities join forces to tackle homelessness among EU labor migrants
Maassluis, Vlaardingen, and Schiedam are teaming up to help homeless EU labor migrants find work, housing, or return home voluntarily. The initiative aims to reduce vulnerability and neighborhood nuisance by providing targeted support starting in 2026.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipalities Involved | Maassluis, Vlaardingen, Schiedam |
| Target Group | Homeless EU labor migrants (e.g., from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria) |
| Sectors of Employment | Logistics, greenhouse horticulture, food processing, construction |
| Partner Organizations | Barka Foundation, The Salvation Army |
| Start of Support | 2026 |
| Region | Rijnmond (including collaboration with Rotterdam) |
| Goal | Employment and housing, or voluntary return to country of origin |
Municipalities in the Netherlands are responsible for social support, including housing and welfare services for residents, including vulnerable groups like homeless labor migrants. This collaboration reflects their duty to address cross-border social issues and reduce public nuisance.
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Support for homeless EU labor migrants
The municipalities of Maassluis, Vlaardingen, and Schiedam will collaborate to support homeless labor migrants from the European Union (EU). By doing so, these municipalities aim to better guide them toward employment and associated housing, or—if more suitable—toward voluntary return to their country of origin.
Many EU labor migrants come to the Netherlands to work temporarily. In the Rijnmond region, they often originate from countries such as Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria. They work in sectors including logistics, greenhouse horticulture, food processing, and construction. Others perform temporary or seasonal work through temporary employment agencies.
For these migrants, work and housing are often closely linked. When work ends or a contract terminates, some labor migrants also lose their accommodation. In such situations, people can end up in vulnerable positions and may even end up on the streets. This can lead to nuisance in neighborhoods.
Better insight into the target group
Since the issues surrounding these individuals do not stop at municipal borders, Maassluis, Vlaardingen, and Schiedam are working together and leveraging facilities, knowledge, and experience from national and regional institutions, such as the Municipality of Rotterdam. The three municipalities aim to gain better insight into the target group, their situations, places of residence, and possible support pathways. The goal is to help homeless EU labor migrants more quickly and effectively find new work, thereby enabling them to secure housing again. In other cases, guidance toward voluntary return to their country of origin may be a better solution.
This year, the plans will be further developed, and support will begin in 2026.
Barka Foundation and The Salvation Army
To support homeless EU labor migrants, the municipalities will collaborate with the Barka Foundation and The Salvation Army. Both organizations have extensive experience in this area. The Barka Foundation is an international organization that daily assists labor migrants from Central and Eastern Europe who have lost their jobs, housing, and health insurance. They speak the right languages and understand the culture of these individuals. The Salvation Army in the Netherlands provides shelter, guidance, and support to people without stable housing or living situations. They actively reach out to individuals, establish contact, and introduce them to social services.