RTV Utrecht: Unique Housing Project in Renswoude

Utrecht – Four young people and four asylum seekers. Starting today, they’ll be neighbors in a new housing project in Renswoude. With eight brand-new studio apartments, the municipality hopes to kill two birds with one stone: help young people find housing and fulfill its obligation to provide housing for status holders.

TV segment (RTV Utrecht), photos, and text by Ulrike Nagel.

Bart van Ginkel, a resident of Renswoude, is very enthusiastic about his new place. “I’m really happy with it. I’m 22 years old and was still living at home. But at some point, you’re ready for more responsibilities and a place of your own.”

High Demand for Housing

Finding that place of his own was difficult in his municipality. In the small town of Renswoude, just like in many other places, the demand for affordable housing is high. Moreover, the municipality has a duty to house status holders as well, explains Ingrid Walda, housing consultant for the municipality of Renswoude.

“We have a quota set by the government. This year, we have to house nine status holders. In the first half of next year, that number is already seven. So it’s only going to keep going up.”

“If we give every vacant home to a status holder, our young people will never get a chance. So we thought: maybe we can combine the two. The young people themselves learn from it, and the newcomers integrate more quickly.”

Bart is all for it. “I’m a gym teacher and I teach kids from immigrant backgrounds. Sometimes I have to communicate with my hands and feet. But I actually see that as a challenge.” As a resident of Renswoude, he now hopes to use his network to help his new neighbors. “Maybe even help them find a job.”

Too small

Still, not everyone was enthusiastic about the apartments. Two status holders felt the apartments weren’t suitable. “We heard the same from the Dutch Council for Refugees,” says Walda. The status holders find the studio apartments too small with a view toward possible family reunification.

But family reunification can take a long time, Walda explains. “We hope they see this as a first step. If they later receive approval for family reunification, we’ll look for a suitable solution.”

That doesn’t dampen Bart’s enthusiasm, though. This morning, he signed the lease at city hall. Afterward, the brand-new residents all worked together to create a piece of art that will be placed in the communal garden.

The garden still needs some work. For example, there are still dumpsters and excavators on the construction site. But as of today, the new residents are completely ready to go.

TV Reporter

Ulrike Nagel