Presentation given by Ivo Vermaas, Portaal, Netherlands at a FEANTSA conference on "People who are homeless can be housed: An insight into successful practices from across Europe", Cardiff, Wales, 2008

1. Homelessness and Social Housing
Ivo Vermaas, director Strategy and Research
Cardiff, 13 - 14 november

2. Homeless
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3. The role of Social Housing Operators
Premise: Social housing operators cannot be
expected to solve the problem of homelessness
Why not !
Portaal does it.
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4. Portaal
One organisation: 56.000 homes
5 regional companies, shared service centre
640 employees; shared development organisation
market value: € 5,9 billion euro
Hoofd-
kantoor Eemland
Leiden Arnhem
Baarn
Utrecht Ondersteunende
Diensten Nijmegen
Veenendaal
Socialy engaged
Large by remaining small, locally based
Commercial thinking and doing
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5. Social housing in the Netherlands
 Total 7 million houses
 Social housing 2,3 million; 33%
 Private owned 4 million; 57 %
 Private rental 0,7 million; 10 %
 Portaal fifth social housing organisation
 Social housing starts in 1901; housing act
 Private institutions, allowed by government;
subsidies hybrid position
 No shareholders, but stakeholders
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6. Housing homeless
Why does Portaal provide accommodations for
the homeless?
 That is what we are there for
 Undivided city, differentiated districts
 Pure expediency
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7. Leiden; New Energy
 Monument in centre of Leiden
 Day care centre
 Shelter for the homeless
 Business building with:
 Editorial staff regional newspaper
 Small communication businesses
 Restaurant; traineeship for young people
 Portaal regional office; roof of the home for the
homeless
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8. Nieuwe Energie
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9. Nieuwe Energie
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10. Situation
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11. Day care centre
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12. Day care centre
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13. Shelter
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14. Restaurant
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15. Communication businesses
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16. Portaal reception
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17. Portaal office
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18. The roof
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19. Cardiff, 13 - 14 november
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20. Conditions for succes
 Excellent agreements with the care providers
 Open communication with the neighbours;
 From Nimby to Wimby
 Find the ideal location
 Dedicated employee
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21. Thank you
Thank you
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