Churches offer refugees temporary shelter to free up asylum beds

The Council of Churches in the Netherlands is taking on a temporary role to provide shelter for refugees in order to free up asylum beds amid a growing crisis. Asylum seekers continue to sleep outdoors, while those who have been granted residence permits remain in overcrowded asylum centers awaiting housing. This shortage of beds has been a growing problem throughout the summer, and with winter approaching, the lack of shelter is becoming increasingly dangerous.

The Council of Churches, comprised of 19 member churches and organizations from various Protestant, Catholic, and Reformed denominations, has launched an initiative called Actie Onderdak (Action Shelter). The Council has written to all local councils and parishes, urging them to lend space in empty rectories or annexes to help accommodate families currently housed in asylum centers, freeing up more beds. The Council has requested that churches offer such space if possible.

The goal of this initiative is to provide families with a temporary three-month stay in a new location where they can "find peace and get to know their surroundings." The plan has been developed in coordination with the refugee settlement agency COA (Catholic Organization for Assistance) and has been endorsed by Asylum Minister Bart van den Brink. COA will ensure that refugees are transferred to a new location after their three-month stay at a church.

According to the Council of Churches, COA will oversee the transfer of refugees to their new homes once their temporary stay in a church is over. The organization relies on the generous support of its readers to continue reporting on issues that matter and to provide daily summaries of the most important Dutch news. Regular donations are crucial for Dutch News to continue its work, and the organization thanks everyone who contributes.