1. Shelter
Homeless shelters and women’s shelters are legal rights under the Social Support Act (Wet maatschappelijke ondersteuning). Denying a homeless person access to basic shelter undermines human dignity and can be harmful. You can request overnight shelter (which is always temporary), or you can apply for long-term shelter with support (customized support). Regulations in Amsterdam: Social Support Regulation Amsterdam 2015, version January 2024. Click here for information from the municipality on what to do if you are homeless.

Temporary Shelter: Short-Term Shelter via the Municipality
– Short-Term Shelter via the Municipality: There are places where you can temporarily find shelter. In the overnight shelter, you can shower, eat, and sleep. The overnight shelter is open in the evenings and at night and is closed during the day. The municipality determines if you are eligible for this short-term shelter. Click here for more information.

– Stoelenproject: During the winter months, you can also use the Stoelenproject for overnight shelter. They are open from September 15 to April 30. Free admission tickets are distributed twice a week: Monday mornings between 08:00 and 09:15 (for the nights of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday), and Thursday mornings between 08:00 and 09:15 (for the nights of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). It is not possible to reserve by phone or email. Click here for more information.

– 24-Hour Shelter for Undocumented Individuals: You can register at the Immigration Office from Monday to Thursday between 10:00 and 12:00. Address: Houtmankade 334C. Click here for more information.

– Short-Term Shelter for Ages 18 to 23: If you are between 18 and 23 years old, short-term shelter might be available. If you don’t have a referral (care provider), you can sign up with the Centrum Team of Permens at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 38hs. Click here for their contact details. More information about shelter facilities for the homeless in Amsterdam can be found in the blue booklet or via the Streetlife app: Android or Apple.

Long-Term Shelter with Support (Customized Support)
Conditions for social shelter for those 18 and older (see the municipality of Amsterdam’s website for more details):

– You must have Dutch nationality or a valid residence permit (this may affect your residency rights; contact us for more information). – You are homeless, meaning you have no fixed address or residence. – You have ties to Amsterdam or one of the other regional municipalities (Aalsmeer, Amstelveen, Diemen, Ouder-Amstel, or Uithoorn). For example, you have lived in Amsterdam in recent years, are receiving assistance here, or have family and friends in Amsterdam. The municipality will assess this. – You are not sufficiently self-reliant to live independently due to a serious psychosocial or psychiatric condition (including addiction). – You have no other options to address your homelessness.

In extreme cases, “non-entitled” individuals may also be granted access to shelter. This is based on the application of international human rights treaties in Dutch law. More information can be found here.

Regional Ties in Amsterdam
Three aspects are considered to determine if someone has ties to the Amsterdam region. These aspects are equally weighted: (1) regional ties according to the Personal Records Database (BRP), (2) care framework, and (3) social network.

Regional Ties According to the BRP: To determine if a person has regional ties, the BRP is consulted. If the BRP does not provide an answer, the client must demonstrate that they have lived in Amsterdam for two out of the last three years (for example, through letters from official institutions, bank statements, judicial history, or contacts with care providers).
Care Framework: This includes considerations such as: Where is the client known to the care services or receiving treatment from a (mental health) care provider, and is there a sustainable relationship? Does the client need specific care that is not available in the region with which they have ties but is available in Amsterdam?
Social Network: This considers whether the client’s social network in Amsterdam (family, friends) positively influences a successful path in Amsterdam. Any previous period spent in Amsterdam is also considered here.
The municipality where you report must consult with the other municipality on what the plan will be. Rejected due to lack of regional ties? You can file an objection.

Self-Reliance Criterion
In Amsterdam, shelter as customized support is only provided to those who are not self-reliant. The Self-Reliance Matrix is used to determine this. Self-reliance is defined as the ability to manage in the current situation. This is assessed across various life areas: income, daytime activities, housing, family relationships, mental health, physical health, addiction, daily living activities, skills, social network, social participation, and justice. Psychiatric issues and addiction are significant factors in this assessment. The self-reliance matrix alone is insufficient to qualify as a Social Support Act investigation (Article 2.3.2, paragraph 4, Social Support Act 2015). The Amsterdam administrative court ruled on July 14, 2017, in paragraph 4.3 that the municipality must also provide insight into the weighting of the severity of problems across the various life areas of the self-reliance matrix. See relevant case law here. Relevant publication: The Self-Reliant Homeless. Rejected because you are considered self-reliant? You can file an objection.

Application for Homeless Shelter
There are four locations where you can apply for shelter with support. Always request a written decision, as you can only file an objection if you have a written decision. A digital application can be submitted through Trajectus.

WPI (age 23+)
Jan van Galenstraat 323, entrance B.
This is available on all working days from 9:00 to 12:00, except Wednesday.

GGD Safety Net and Advice (age 23- and families)
Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, second floor
1018 WT Amsterdam
Phone: 020 555 5462
vangnet@ggd.amsterdam.nl

In Emergencies Outside Office Hours (after 17:00):
Go to the police station, for example, if you are on the street with children or have a serious illness. At the police station, you can ask for help from the GGD. The police will then call the GGD on your behalf.

Disagree?
Was your request for shelter wrongly denied? Start an objection procedure. You have six weeks to file an objection. You can start an urgent procedure in court, asking the judge for a provisional ruling. Contact us for advice.

Homeless but Self-Reliant?
Then you can temporarily stay in a “passantenpension” of HVO-Querido. This is a type of hotel for which you must pay rent. You can call the reservation line at 0800 – 0415 to put yourself on the waiting list. You must call weekly to keep your place on the waiting list.

De Regenbooggroep has various projects focused on temporary housing.

“Onder de pannen”
“Tijdelijk onder dak”
“Parenthouse”
You can register here for social work from De Regenbooggroep.

Complaint
If you have a complaint about your shelter, it’s best to discuss it first with the involved organization. You can also contact the municipality’s complaint team. If you cannot resolve it or if your complaint is not satisfactorily handled, you can go to the Ombudsman Metropool Amsterdam. In some cases, you can also involve the Healthcare Disputes Committee.

A complaint about the following care institutions can also be filed with the POA complaints committee:

Blijf Groep
Stichting HVO-Querido
Leger des Heils, Goodwill Centra Amsterdam
Stichting Oudezijds 100
Stichting De Regenboog Groep
Stichting Volksbond Amsterdam
2. Housing
Living in Amsterdam
– Woningnet: You must first register on Woningnet before you can apply for housing. It’s best to apply every week. People over 50 have a much better chance of getting senior housing. Since January 16, 2023, the new points system has been in place at Woningnet. In addition to points for years of registration, it is now also possible to receive waiting points, situation points, and starting points. Click here for more information. You can apply for situation and starting points here. This application is followed by a written decision from the municipality of Amsterdam. If you disagree with the decision, you can file an objection.

– Other Options: Register on various websites such as www.kamernet.nl, www.kamertje.nl, or www.kamer.nl. You can also look for cheap hotels and hostels, or consider options like “Onder de pannen,” a housing group, or an anti-squatter property, such as www.investe.nl or www.vps-nl.com.

Urgency Declaration
In emergencies, you can apply for priority for social housing. You need an urgency declaration for this. The municipality of Amsterdam decides whether you qualify for (medical) urgency. Think you might be eligible? Call 14020. For information and advice on an urgency declaration, you can also visit the Social Desk in the City Offices. Call 020 255 2916 or use the appointment form to schedule an appointment.

The municipality of Amsterdam applies the following basic conditions for an urgency declaration:

– You are 18 years or older and not yet 65.
– You have Dutch nationality, a valid passport or document from the EU (European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area), or a valid residence permit.
– You must be registered in Amsterdam at the address where you actually live, or have a mailing address from the Special Target Groups department of the municipality.
– The taxable annual income of a multi-person household must not exceed €48,625. The income of your children is not counted. The maximum taxable annual income for a single-person household is €44,035. You can find your taxable annual income on the annual statement you receive from your employer or benefits agency. Check the Tax Office / Annual Statement for more information.
– You must be able to live independently.
– You must not have debts, or you must be in a debt management program.
– You must have less than 13 waiting points (1 waiting point equals 1 year of registration with WoningNet) if your household consists of up to 3 people. If your household consists of 4 or more people, you must have less than 15 waiting points.
– You must not be living in a care facility.

– You must have done everything possible to resolve the issue yourself. Other solutions are not possible, or you have already tried them all.

– The situation must not be of your own making, or you must not have been able to prevent it.

– If you are 65 or older, you get priority for senior housing. Therefore, if you are 65 or older, you cannot apply for urgency.

If your request for an urgency declaration is denied, you can file an objection. You can contact Bureau Straatjurist for assistance.

Living Outside of Amsterdam
The chances of finding a home in Amsterdam are very slim due to long waiting times. Outside of Amsterdam, your chances are better. Consider, for example, “krimpgemeenten” (shrinking municipalities). These are areas where the population is decreasing, increasing your chances of finding a home. Click here for an overview of shrinking municipalities in the Netherlands.

Risk of Losing Your Home
If you have a home but are at risk of losing it, the most common reasons for termination of your rental agreement by the landlord are:

– You have not paid rent for three months or more: Seek help from a debt counselor immediately! The law states that you must be helped without delay in such a case. See: Help with money problems.

– Due to nuisance: Contact a social worker, such as De Regenboog Groep.

How to Prevent Eviction? Click here for information on tenant protection. Even with a temporary rental contract, the procedure for termination must be followed. Only the district court judge can terminate your rental agreement involuntarily, even for temporary rentals. Always hire a specialized tenant rights lawyer. Do not go to court without a tenant rights lawyer!