Homeless

You are homeless if you do not have a permanent place to live or sleep. You might be temporarily homeless, for example if you are staying with friends, or you might be homeless for a longer period and not have any place to stay. 

Finding help  

It is important that you get help quickly. Organisations that help homeless people can be found in most major cities. Many towns and cities have shelters where you can sleep temporarily and also shower and eat. Your municipality decides whether you have a right to a place in one of its shelters. This depends on your personal situation. Some municipalities also provide emergency accommodation for people who do not have the right to a place in a shelter. 

Help for homeless people 

There are many organisations that are dedicated to helping homeless people. If you have questions about housing, work or help in your situation, you can go to a Work in NL information point. The people who work there will listen to what you have to say and refer you to the right organisation. 

Postal address 

Many people who are homeless do not have an official address. This makes it harder for them to receive post, find work and receive healthcare. In the Netherlands, municipalities and humanitarian organisations try to support people who do not have somewhere to live. Contact your municipality to obtain a postal address. 

Health and healthcare 

People without health insurance can make use of the subsidy scheme for medically necessary healthcare. Healthcare providers know how this scheme works.