Wooninc. on collision course with residents.

Het Busseltje is a green and close-knit neighbourhood, once built for seniors. More than 7 years ago, the homes were sold by RSZK to Wooninc. Since then, the homes have been withdrawn from the social housing stock and rented out via the Vacancy Act. The maximum term of 7 years for the vacancy permit is now in sight, but the corporation has still not realised any concrete plans. 

In order to prevent residents from building up tenancy rights, Wooninc. wants to evict the current residents and replace them with anti-squatters. In this way, the vacancy law is being abused. Now that tenants are building up tenancy rights, they are simply thrown out onto the street and exchanged for anti-squatters to avoid social and financial responsibility. After all, the corporation can simply let these tenants live in their homes, which will create a regular rental situation with housing security and solve the social problems. 

Tenants are not exchangeable. 

Wooninc. held an information evening in which it was announced that they can apply for another home in the neighbourhood via anti-squatting agency HOD. While their own home is then rented out to someone else. But not all residents can participate in this musical chairs. Resident Jan (63) was told that he was too old for anti-squatting. Other residents were told that they should look in other cities. “It is a disgrace that housing corporations are still circumventing rent protection via anti-squatting without rights. This inhuman anti-squat construction must be legally restricted.” states the BPW.

Housing insecurity is violence.

Residents of the Busseltje are at their wits' end: Madelon, 24; “I am at risk of becoming homeless, have a lot of stress and can’t sleep at night anymore. Due to the threat of homelessness and the loss of stability, I am forced to stop my studies. Because how can I focus on my studies while my future is so up in the air and I don’t know where I will live? Housing insecurity affects us on all levels – emotionally, socially, politically, financially and in my case also academically. Housing is not a luxury, it is a fundamental right!”

Jan van 63: “If you are then thrown out and then other residents move in, it is completely crazy. It seems as if we only have duties here but no rights. I feel very cheated, it is very depressing. One of the certainties you want in life is a roof over your head and that is suddenly taken away. I have experienced this once before. I just want housing security.”

Pauline, 64: “The group of temporary residents is diverse, ranging in age from 24 to 80, but they all have one thing in common: they accepted the temporary contract out of necessity. On March 1, 2025, that necessity will be there again. The bond with the municipality varies, for economic, personal and social reasons, to family structures. People can lose their social safety net, become displaced or simply homeless.”

Organizing together for housing rights.

Recently the BPW held an information afternoon for the residents and we made a plan together with the residents. A number of residents have recently recorded at a committee meeting at the town hall in Reusel – de Mierden to urge them to take action. To this day, the municipality refuses to take social responsibility, even though the situation threatens to escalate completely. 

Watch the residents' input here

Prevent homelessness 

In the National Action Plan Homelessness First a Home the government wants to eradicate all homelessness by 2030 and focus on prevention. Yet the number of homeless people is not decreasing, according to ETHOS Counts that were carried out in 55 municipalities. Putting people on the street is not a way to prevent homelessness. It is therefore high time that these practices are curbed by Wooninc. and anti-squat companies! 

“More and more people are losing the roof over their heads. Homelessness is a violation of human rights: a form of violence. That is a conscious policy choice. We can and must no longer accept that!” the BPW states

We want to prevent vulnerable residents from being exchanged for each other and set against each other. There are no concrete plans for the neighborhood and there is a major housing crisis in Reusel and the surrounding area. Residents can't and won't go anywhere! 

Action committee Busseltje Must Remain and the Association of Precarious Housing (BPW) demand:     

• Let residents live in their (t)home. Stop the evictions of all residents and respect their tenancy rights. 
• Prevent homelessness and exchange tenants for residents without rights by Wooninc. and HOD anti-squat agency. Living is not musical chairs!
• The municipality of Reusel de Mierden must now work on housing security for everyone. Prevent a major social drama through homelessness and evictions of young, old and vulnerable tenants.

Show your solidarity.

Come to the action and presentation of demands on Tuesday, November 5 at 1:00 PM at housing corporation Wooninc., Winston Churchillaan 87, Eindhoven.  

For more information and to contact the residents, please contact us via contact (at) bondprecairewoonvorm.nl