On July 1, 2025, De Regenboog Groep launched the Collective Waiting List Assistance project. The initiative arose from a growing problem in the chain of Supported Home and Protected Residence (BTBV).
"Anyone on a waiting list for a residential facility within the BTBV chain is entitled to waiting list assistance," says project coordinator Chris van Bokkem. "But because so many people are waiting, even a waiting list has been created for that guidance. There are now more than a thousand people in Amsterdam on a waiting list for shelter or sheltered housing. Without guidance they easily get further into trouble. Or they even disappear from view."
Preventing slippage
Many of these people already come to De Regenboog Groep's walk-in centres, Chris continues. "We offer a listening ear and support there. Actually, we already had a form of waiting list support that way. Then we thought: let's organize that structurally." With the collective waiting list counseling, De Regenboog wants to relieve the BTBV chain and at the same time prevent people from slipping further while waiting for a place. That is why two walk-in centres are open on their closing days precisely for people on the waiting list: Oud West on Tuesdays and Zeeburg on Wednesdays.
Taking steps together
Chris explains how it works: "Employees look at their position on the waiting list together with visitors and discuss what steps people can already take. By re-examining a situation, we sometimes see that someone is a better fit in another place and can even get there faster. A good example is a gentleman who reported to us at the end of October 2025. His application for wrap-around housing - a one-person residence with support from a personal attendant - turned out to be on hold. He had lost his job and welfare benefits remained outstanding. We connected with the relevant parties and arranged an exception. As a result, the assistance was granted on an accelerated basis. And so in January 2026, the gentleman still received the keys to his wrap-around home."
Text: Nicolline van der Spek | Photography: Ewa Wielgat