ROTTERDAM, 17 July 2025 – Despite new shelters and increased attention, homelessness in Rotterdam continues to rise. In response, the municipality, regional ombudsman, and dozens of care and housing organisations have pledged stronger cooperation to reverse the trend.
Rotterdam intensifies approach to rising homelessness
Rotterdam continues to see a growing number of people without stable housing—both those sleeping rough and the so-called ‘invisible homeless’ staying temporarily with friends, family or in shelters. To confront this escalating issue, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Ombudsman Rotterdam-Rijnmond (ORR), and a wide network of organisations in care, safety, and housing have announced a joint agenda for action.
According to Alderman Ronald Buijt, responsible for care, elderly services and youth welfare, over one hundred additional spaces have been created over the past year for people sleeping on sofas. A new shelter for EU migrants without access to regular benefits or housing support was also opened on Volkelstraat. However, these efforts have not led to a decline in homelessness.
“The nuisance associated with this group remains a challenge in many neighbourhoods,” Buijt stated. “We must adopt a different approach. Together with ORR and care partners, we have now outlined our principles in a vision document and implementation agenda.”
Ombudsman calls for radical change
Marianne van den Anker, ombudsman for Rotterdam-Rijnmond, described the situation as unacceptable: “In a city like Rotterdam, it is inhumane that people must survive in degrading conditions on the streets. Residents express concern both for those experiencing homelessness and for the disturbances in their neighbourhoods.”
She warned that the lack of affordable housing, shelter capacity, and care services prevents timely assistance, often allowing personal crises to escalate. “Help arrives too late—when people have already collapsed. That makes recovery far more difficult. We need a rigorous, ‘ombuds-proof’ approach that ensures nobody falls through the cracks of bureaucracy.”
Goals of the new cooperation
The joint initiative will focus on prevention, targeted outreach, and improved access to suitable help. A key aim is to strengthen connections between care services and public safety. Special attention will be given to rough sleepers, people avoiding care, and EU migrants who are not eligible for standard support.
Efforts will also be made to improve governance, increase the availability of suitable shelter options, and create sustainable solutions for the most vulnerable groups. Coordination and information-sharing among formal and informal networks will be reinforced. Responsibilities within this cross-sector collaboration will be clearly defined.
Implementation agenda published
These plans and commitments have been recorded in the Implementation agenda for the integrated approach to homelessness, Rotterdam 2025 (Uitvoeringsagenda Integrale Aanpak Dak- en Thuisloosheid, Rotterdam 2025). The document serves as the foundation for intensified cooperation among the city, ORR and numerous care and welfare organisations. It complements existing policies and action plans, while introducing a more unified and holistic strategy.
Location of the new shelter
One of the new shelter locations opened for EU migrants without entitlement to standard support is located on Volkelstraat. The street lies in Rotterdam's northwest, within a mixed residential and industrial area accessible by public transport and near major roads.
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