For people living on the streets, the Blue Book can mean a lot. Editor and experiencer Deborah Pieroelie: "It's a kind of lifeline to a normal life again."
For many years, De Regenboog Groep has published the Blue Booklet, full of addresses of social services, doctor's offices, community centers and places where homeless people can go for a cup of coffee or a visit to the toilet, for example. "Actually, the booklet shows that you are not alone." So says volunteer Deborah Pieroelie, who along with Giuseppe Scarpa keeps track of the addresses and phone numbers of aid organizations. The booklet is updated annually. "And that's quite a job," says Deborah. "Organizations disappear or merge into one another. We have to check that every year."
From my own experience
Deborah knows firsthand what it feels like to be homeless. "Thirty years ago I was homeless myself with a baby," she says, adding, in perspective, "That was a thing." She eventually ended up in a shelter. "I was helped there so incredibly well. It allowed me to grow again and become confident." That experience motivates her to volunteer to work on the booklet. Year after year. "I understand the desperation of people who are homeless. With the Blue Booklet in your pocket, you feel less alone. Since a few years we also make an English-language version (The Blue Booklet) and we provide the content of the (bilingual) Streetlife app."
In the background
Self, Deborah prefers to stay in the background. "Very few people know I'm participating in this," she says. "But I think that's just fine. All the credit goes to Giuseppe and De Regenboog Groep."
Deborah said.
Text: Nicolline van der Spek | Photography: Marianne Könst and Mila van Egmond