Albert (32) looks young, but under his gray hat is a story of trial and error. He is from Bulgaria and like many people from EU countries, he came to the Netherlands with a plan: to work, earn money and build a better future. But things turned out differently.
He lost his job and with it his shelter. Within a short time he ended up on the street. De Regenboog Groep helped him get back on his feet with a place to sleep, day activities and a paid job. A three-stage rocket that helps more stranded EU citizens get ahead. Two De Regenboog Groep projects - T6 Work Company and Back2Work - combine to form a pathway that combines rest, guidance and work experience. At T6, a 24-hour perspective shelter for homeless EU citizens run by De Regenboog Groep and HVO-Querido, participants first get something that was often lacking for a long time: rest. Social worker Cristi Vasilescu sees daily how important that is. "Many people come in here exhausted. Some have hardly slept for days or weeks and struggle with addiction problems. When you live like that, you can't think about work right away." At T6, residents receive help with practical issues such as care, administration and contact with agencies. It also looks at underlying problems such as addiction or mental health issues.
Work as key
The next step is often work. Not an immediate job - that is still too big a step for many participants - but first some form of day activities. Since 2025, T6 has offered supervised work activities. In 2025, about 65 residents of T6 participated in these day activities. For many participants, it is the first step back to a work routine. The activities are practical: clothing intake, trash picking and laundry, but the goal is bigger than the job itself. "It's about rhythm," says work supervisor Eelco van Damme. "Getting up on time, keeping appointments, working together. These are things that people have sometimes lost for a long time." When participants have regained some stability, Back2Work comes into the picture. This project of De Regenboog Groep helps EU citizens with a distance to the labor market to take steps toward employment again. In 2025, De Regenboog Groep guided 110 participants to a work route. As a result, 56 job interviews and 37 paid jobs were held. Trajectory coach David Wolkers sees how important the combination with T6 is. "If someone is already doing day activities with us, we can see if someone is motivated. And we dare to start a follow-up program."
"I dare to dream of a future again."
.Intrinsic motivation
Albert followed exactly such a trajectory. After a few weeks at T6, he started day activities. Then he came in contact with David. Together they worked on his next step. "We looked at what he can do and what he wants," David says. Through Back2Work, Albert got a job with the social firm Milieuwerk, a recycling company. "What I did find difficult at first," laughs Albert, "was the early getting up. But after a few weeks I got used to my new routine. I stuck with it and I'm proud of that. Now I have a permanent contract. I feel I am motivated, different from before. I want to move on; a family, a future. And that starts with work." Eelco: "With Albert we quickly saw a difference. First he came to sleep, then for work. The rhythm gave him confidence again." Cristi nods, "Many people have gone through a long period of disappointments. They have lost jobs, lost homes, sometimes even contact with family. Work can slowly restore self-confidence. When someone earns a salary again and has colleagues, a lot changes. You see people grow again."
For Albert, Back2Work has changed his life. With what he earns, he is saving for a room of his own. Sometimes he thinks back to when he was living on the streets. "Then I thought it would never be right again," he says, straightening his hat once more. "Now I dare to dream of a future again."