The government does not sufficiently protect the rights of families who are forcibly evicted. This has major consequences for the well-being and development of children and the dignity of their parents, conclude the National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen and Children’s Ombudsman Margrite Kalverboer in an investigation on Tuesday.
Kalverboer and Van Zutphen call on the government to better embed the rights of parents and families in the event of eviction in policy and regulations.
The ombudsman and woman received many complaints and signals about evictions. Because despite the ban on evictions, many families still become homeless. This can be the result of, for example, rent arrears, nuisance or (drug) crime. According to Kalverboer and Van Zutphen, the government still thinks too much that it is their own fault, leaving families on their own.
Children invisible
“I see that people are at risk of becoming homeless after they have been evicted from their homes and are considered responsible for finding new housing,” says Van Zutphen. “If help does come from municipalities, families often end up in all kinds of temporary housing solutions for a long time. Then their life becomes survival and they cannot work on their future. These people experience a lot of stress and are then actually homeless. The government is insufficiently aware of this and is therefore not fulfilling its duty of care.”
According to Kalverboer, children are invisible during evictions. “Children are never talked to, they are not supported and they are not prepared for what the future will bring. For children in particular, the impact of evictions is enormous. So they should be extra well protected.”
Nasty experience
Kalverboer and Van Zutphen want the government to fulfill its duty and help these families. By, for example, better embedding their rights in Dutch policy and regulations. Families should also have better access to information so that they know what is involved in an eviction. “Evictions will always be a bad experience, but the government plays a crucial role in securing the future of these families,” says Van Zutphen.
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