Homeless Amsterdam residents walk a lot. Large parts of the day, and often of the night. Miles and miles away. They are usually not allowed to sit anywhere longer; they are fined and turned away. They are forced to keep moving constantly, always on the run.
.They do this on shoes that are far too small and narrow. These almost never fit properly, pinch terribly and are often broken.
Increasingly homeless
In late August, CBS announced that the number of homeless people has more than doubled over the past 10 years. This means more people in trouble and looking for help. And, unfortunately, also more people vulnerable to other dangers, such as addiction. As a result, the pressure on De Regenboog Groep's walk-in centres is unfortunately only expected to increase. And so will the demand for facilities offered such as food, drink, clothing and shoes.
"The vast majority of homeless people walk in pain"
.Volunteer pedicurist Jeannette, better known to the homeless as "the foot woman of De Kloof walk-in centre," has been helping homeless people with their feet for 20 years: "The need is higher than ever. The vast majority of homeless people walk in pain." Feet full of corns, ingrown toenails and even inflammations Jeannette encounters.
"With a homeless person's foot in my hand, I can best use my skills. When they take a seat in the chair, I always say: a 5-minute vacation, nothing for a while. Then I let the energy flow through and I manage to relieve and even remove pains in different ways. That is so nice and grateful. But then they start walking again on shoes you can't walk on at all. In no time at all the corns and other painful discomforts return." It's like mopping the water up.
MINSTED HUNDRED PARKS NEEDED
This is why all of De Regenboog Groep's walk-in centres are now sounding the alarm and calling on everyone to good men's shoes to come by. Every day some 600 homeless people visit De Regenboog Groep's eight walk-in centres. Last year, that was nearly 5,000 unique visitors for this day shelter offered in Amsterdam. And hardly any of the homeless walk in normal shoes. Then you can guess at the number of shoes needed.
... And any wishes too?
Yes, the current shoes are pinching. So preferably the somewhat wider shoe from size 42, which is also sturdy and warm. The now mostly worn fake leather and fabric (sports) shoes are also freezing cold in winter. As a result, homeless people wear several pairs of socks in shoes that were too small anyway. Moreover, such shoes become too wide at the sides due to walking. Then they no longer give any support and this creates new physical problems and is exhausting.
CALL! WANTED: GOOD MEN'S SHOES!
De Regenboog Groep is calling on men to donate good shoes they are not using. But is also asking shoe stores to donate men's abandoned - still decent - footwear or perhaps batches of (unsold) new shoes, such as outdoor sizes. Especially the really large sizes are very hard to find.
If you don't have shoes to spare or don't have time to stop by one of the walk-in centers, you can still help.Donate. As a company, you can of course also make a financial contribution for footwear and thereby adopt a walk-in centre.
.Jeannette enthuses at this appeal, "It is so beautiful to see homeless people walking in shoes that do fit well. People then exclaim in amazement, 'I don't hurt at all!' Good shoes make you a different person."
Text: Jola Gosen / Photography: Merlin Michon
Bring shoes as an individual?
You can do so at one of our walk-in centres. Just keep in mind the opening hours.
These can be found here: https://www.deregenboog.org/locaties