The Hague relocates winter homeless shelter to Loosduinen

The Hague is implementing changes to its homeless emergency shelter services. For the upcoming winter season, the winter emergency shelter (Winterkouderegeling) will relocate from the Haardstede in the Escamp district to the former Koos Meindertsschool on Albardastraat in the Loosduinen district. This temporary facility will provide 100 permanent spots and 20 flexible spots, offering meals, showers, and sleeping accommodations when nighttime temperatures drop below zero.

The temporary Albardastraat location is only intended for use this winter, as the building is scheduled for demolition. The municipality aims to establish a permanent structural location by the end of 2027.

Simultaneously, concerns are rising regarding the relocation of daytime shelters in the city center. While the coalition agreement suggests moving the daytime shelter at Wagenstraat, aid organizations like Stichting BARKA have expressed uncertainty and concern regarding where displaced individuals will go. This comes amid a broader crisis in the Netherlands; the G4 cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht) have issued an open letter to the national government noting that homelessness is increasing rapidly and that many individuals are in desperate condition due to addiction and mental health issues.