Situation in Utrecht end nineties

Local authority initiates approach for the solution of problems with addicted homeless citizens in Utrecht Presentation Ostrava September 2010

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THEN

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NOW

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Situation in Utrecht end nineties

Big shopping mall in the centre of the city: • Refuge for about 1000 homeless people (500 addicted to hard drugs) • Harassment and criminality • Terrible living conditions for homeless group • Negative visiting card for Utrecht

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Something had to be done!

Mayor and Aldermen (local authority) took the initiative: • to get together all parties concerned • Salvation Army as first caregiver • to spend time, energy and money • to develop a plan together

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Plan • To build four shelters in the centre • And seven hostels (homes) in the quarters of the city Aim: • Improve lives of addicted and homeless citizens • Decrease harassment and criminality

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Approach • Order for Municipal Health Service • Much attention for communication to all concerned

• Institution of governinggroups

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Results First: • Four shelters and nine hostels were built • Status to become hostelinhabitant • New insights in longterm drugaddiction Later: • Recovery and vast improvement in situation addicted homeless group • Minimalisation in harassment and criminality • Pride of all concerned 8

Current state of affairs • Closure of almost all shelters for drugusers • Recovery of half of the group; expected closure of number of hostels in future But: • There are still other problems to be tackled: alcohol, new drugs, new groups

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