The Regenboog argues at Housing Protest for use of vacancy against acute homelessness

On Oct. 28, De Regenboog Groep joined action against the housing crisis, the real estate industry, government mismanagement and the unambitious plans of most political parties. With new, concrete and immediate demands.

Tamara Kuschel spoke on behalf of De Regenboog Groep at the protest. Tamara is DRG's Temporary Housing Project Manager:

"That the Netherlands is in a housing crisis is abundantly clear. So is the fact that something must be done structurally about the lack of affordable housing in the Netherlands. But those structural solutions do not prevent people from being homeless now and still becoming homeless every day.

I stand here today to call attention to the people who are already victims of failing housing policies. Every week, forty people report to us with acute housing problems. People whose lives stand still (...)

At the same time, there is an awful lot of vacancy. That vacancy can be put to use today, creating places to live. Empty rooms in people's homes, empty office buildings, empty school buildings.

We therefore demand today:

- That real estate parties take responsibility and make vacant properties available to live in
- That the government facilitates this
- That government and municipalities make housing sharing such as hospita rentals easier.

Because: structural solutions are needed,but we also need to do something NOW for all the people who are already homeless and still becoming homeless every day."

Leakness = stagnation!

De Regenboog Groep is committed to giving people who are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis a temporary place to live in the vacancy that is already there today. In times of a housing crisis, vacancy is obviously unacceptable, because with the vacancy that is there now, anyone can live now.

How does the Regenboog do this? By providing empty rooms in people's homes via hospice rentals (Under de Pannen), by demolishing and renovating housing from
housing corporations (Temporary Under Roof) and making any kind of vacancy available (Temporary Under Roof).

The housing crisis calls for structural solutions and politicians talk about the future, but right now the group of people who are homeless is growing every day! De Regenboog Groep, is looking for temporary housing solutions in vacant properties that are available NOW to give people without the right to shelter a roof over their heads.

Here is Tamara's full speech at the Housing Protest:

"I am Tamara Kuschel of De Regenboog Groep. An organization working daily in Amsterdam and the surrounding area with the effects of the housing crisis.

That we have a housing crisis is abundantly clear. That something must be done structurally about the lack of affordable housing in the Netherlands as well.

I stand here today in the first place to call attention to the people who are already victims of failing housing policies NOW.

I stand here to demand that the government and property owners take responsibility.

Weekly, 40 people report to us with acute housing problems. Years of policies have turned public housing into a housing market. And we see every day the damage this has done.

Homeless people, whose lives are at a standstill. People like you and me, hopping from couch to couch, sleeping in a gazebo, a car or a boat, because they have no choice or opportunity.

Think of the divorced father who has to stress about his place to sleep every day, showers at the gym before he goes to work and can only see his children in the playground

The housing crisis is doing long-term damage. Lives on pause and people slipping by the hopelessness of their situation.

Housing security seems to be the magic word for this election, but fighting homelessness and the right to a home I don't see reflected in election campaigns. Strange, because how can you build a secure existence without a roof over your head.

The bill for this housing crisis is now being placed on you and me: the individual citizen. Who is unable to solve the problem. And yes the government is now coming up with structural solutions and looking to the future. But that does not prevent the fact that at this moment the number of homeless people is growing, every day.

We, De Regenboog Groep, are looking for housing solutions in vacant properties. Vacant properties that are available now. This is how we alleviate the acute need of people without the right to shelter.

And you can! Because those vacant square feet are there!

With the vacant square footage there is, everyone can live.

We call for:

• That real estate parties take responsibility and make vacant properties available to live in
• That the government facilitate this and address impeding regulations
• That the government make real estate parties housing sharing easier
• That people who help each other in this housing crisis are rewarded instead of punished

Structural reforms are needed, but we also need to do something NOW for all the people who are already homeless and still becoming homeless every day.

Homelessness is stagnation. Give homeless people a roof and with it the prospect of a life and future!

You can't live in bullshit, you can live in vacancy!"