Original article posted in Dutch media, De Volkskrant on 6 September 2024.
The new government will cut funding for the shelter of undocumented individuals as of January 1. Researchers are warning of the consequences this will have in major cities and are sounding the alarm.
The newspaper op-ed warns of serious consequences following the Dutch government’s decision to end funding for the “bed, bath, bread” (bed-bad-brood) program, called the Landelijke Vreemdelingen Voorziening (LVV), which provides essential services to undocumented migrants in five Dutch cities. Effective January 1, the decision to end the program is justified by an alleged “re-orientation” of the Dutch government towards effectuating returns, rather than providing for continued shelter. This furthered a long-standing divide between the central government and municipalities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen, which urge for continued support to undocumented residents. Local governments argue that basic services are essential to uphold the dignity and rights of undocumented migrants while also alleviating pressure on public services, such as homeless shelters. Denying these services, so local governments and the authors warn, will push undocumented individuals into greater marginalization without solving the core issue of irregular migration, which is driven by strict border controls, limited legal migration routes, and a deregulated labor market.
Coyright: RTV Utrecht
About the authors
Thomas Swerts, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Minke Hajer, Utrecht University; Mieke Kox, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Laura Cleton, Erasmus University Rotterdam (FAiR Project); Bruno Meeus, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences; Ruben Boers, The Hague University of Applied Sciences/Open University; Richard Staring, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Jordan Dez, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Ilse van Liempt, Utrecht University; Carola Vasileiadi, Erasmus University Rotterdam; Peter Vrieler, University of Amsterdam; Markha Valenta, Utrecht University; Frederiek de Vlaming, University of Amsterdam