Yemi Schneider - since 2020 social worker with the Urban Team Economically Homeless
For the economically homeless, a new home is often outside Amsterdam. Suppose your relationship ends and you leave. Or you unexpectedly lose your job and can no longer pay your housing costs. You are then homeless and have to look for housing. Increasingly, these homeless Amsterdammers find their new home outside the city, sometimes out of necessity. As a social worker, Yemi Schneider speaks with them daily. "With the word 'homeless,' people quickly have images of shopping carts full of personal belongings, half liters of canned beer, and sleeping on a park bench. But that's not what the reality of most homeless people looks like. The reality is that many people without homes are staying on couches with family or friends, camping or sleeping in cars, and using the walk-in center to shower. And from there they often go to work as well. We call this group economically homeless."
No psychiatric problems or addiction
Economically homeless people do not have psychiatric problems and are not addicted. Their main problem is that they do not have a home. De Regenboog Groep has special support centers to help the economically homeless. Schneider works at the support centers. "Realize that there is much more help for 'classic' homeless people than there is for economically homeless people. There is simply more help for people who are addicted or have mental health issues. The other day an economically homeless man said, 'So because I don't shove a needle in my arm, I don't get help...?' Many economically homeless people feel they are being left to their own devices."
Unbelief and despair
Schneider estimates that 10 to 20 percent of her clients are seriously considering a place of residence other than Amsterdam. If you work in Amsterdam or have an ex with children in the city, living in another area is impractical. But even people without economic or practical ties to the city sometimes feel resistance to leaving. Schneider: "There is a lot of disbelief and despair among real Amsterdammers. They were born and raised here and have their network and family here. To then be told that moving outside the city is the best option for you is quite harsh." In addition, people with a different cultural background fear that they will not feel as comfortable outside Amsterdam.
Dancing together if it works
The support centers for economically homeless people help those who do want to and can leave. Yemi: "You can register for social housing throughout the Netherlands. We have a current list of registration sites and help people register. They then have to keep responding to the housing offer themselves. Some sites are free, others charge a registration fee." Once housing is assigned, the support center helps further. Schneider: "Based on someone's budget, we look at what is possible. Sometimes we have to arrange something for furnishing costs, the first rent bill and the security deposit." In some cases, the support center helps find activities, debt assistance and a network in the new place of residence. "And then we dance together when it's worked out!"
Yemi Schneider