Free debt assistance program helps hundreds in Dijk en Waard escape financial struggles
Struggling with debt or financial worries? Debt Help Buddy in Dijk en Waard offers free, judgment-free support to help residents regain control of their finances. With 90% success in reducing debt problems, this volunteer-driven initiative is making a real difference for households in need.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Debt Help Buddy Dijk en Waard |
| Coverage | Active in over 50% of Dutch municipalities, including Dijk en Waard |
| Households Helped Annually | ~60 in Dijk en Waard |
| Success Rate | 90% of cases see reduced debt problems |
| Volunteers | 25 trained volunteers |
| National Poverty Increase | From 2.5% to 2.7% (180,000 to 200,000 households) |
| Local Households in Need | ~1,000 in Dijk en Waard |
| Support Duration | Typically several months, sometimes years |
| Referral Partners | Humanitas, Zaffier, MET Dijk en Waard |
| Website | schuldhulpmaatje.nl/dijk-en-waard |
Debt Help Buddy operates under local foundations like Platform Armoedebestrijding Heerhugowaard, which focus on combating poverty at the municipal level. These organizations work alongside government social services to provide targeted, community-based support to residents facing financial hardship.
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Debt Help Buddy offers free assistance with financial worries
Are you worried because you can't make ends meet with your money? Are you short on funds because your personal situation has changed? Do you have debts or are you at risk of falling into debt? You are not alone. Debt Help Buddy Dijk en Waard helps you tackle your money problems: free of charge and without judgment.
Grateful work
Walter Kocken and Jaap Schaaf are the coordinators of Debt Help Buddy Dijk en Waard. Before we discuss the assistance, Walter shares some facts: “Poverty in the Netherlands has increased from 2.5% to 2.7%. This means a rise from 180,000 to 200,000 households. In Dijk en Waard, there are about a thousand households, but not all of them have debts. We help around sixty households per year, and in 90% of cases, the problems decrease thanks to our help. Currently, Debt Help Buddy is active in more than half of Dutch municipalities. In Alkmaar, for example, it is not yet active, but we encourage that.”
Jaap adds: “There is a national umbrella foundation, and in Dijk en Waard, we operate under the foundation Platform Armoedebestrijding Heerhugowaard. We have 25 volunteers; these Buddies help about 60 people seeking assistance each year. Usually, a trajectory lasts several months, but sometimes it takes a few years. The volunteers enjoy doing this; it is very rewarding work, and we have little turnover.”
How debts arise
Jaap explains how debts often come about: “You often see that it results from a change in life circumstances. Someone loses a job, goes through a divorce, or becomes disabled. It could be that a partner passes away, or it involves young people who have children. People do not intentionally fall into debt, and it is certainly not ‘their own fault, tough luck.’ Sometimes the debts are too large, and in those cases, we refer people to other aid organizations.”
Don’t wait to ask for help
Jaap: “The requests for help vary from people who are at risk of falling into debt to those who have been in debt for years. We always hope that people will reach out at an early stage, but it sometimes takes a while for people to realize they cannot handle it alone. That’s perfectly fine. We also receive referrals through Humanitas, Zaffier, and MET Dijk en Waard.”
Accessible
When someone contacts Debt Help Buddy, an intake interview is scheduled. “If we can help, we look for the best match for the person seeking assistance, in terms of trust and experience; because a good match between those seeking help and Buddies is essential for a successful assistance trajectory. We have young people, retirees, men, and women. Additionally, we have support from people in healthcare and the financial sector, and we know how to find the right funding sources. For example, we can help with swimming lessons for children. Our goal is to provide accessible and appropriate assistance.”
Working on behavioral change
Walter continues: “Our volunteers receive a three-day training from the national organization. The focus is on behavioral change. You can help people out of debt, but you also want to keep them out of debt. They are called Buddies because they stand beside the person seeking help. We encourage the person seeking assistance to do as much as possible themselves to promote self-reliance.”
Motivated volunteers
More and more people are now aware of Debt Help Buddy. Walter: “We are working on our visibility. When I started here four years ago, I didn’t know about it either. So, we are trying to make ourselves known more, including through social media and various parties such as community centers and other aid organizations. Once you have good contact, you notice that more requests naturally come from these parties. I do think that the value of our motivated, well-trained volunteers is often underestimated. We have no financial interest, no time pressure, and we are purely there to help people. That deserves more attention.” Debt Help Buddy works with a great team of volunteers, but the foundation is actively looking for board members, particularly a secretary. For more information, visit schuldhulpmaatje.nl/dijk-en-waard (Links to an external site).