Last November, the European Action Coalition (including BPW) participated in the first International People's Assembly for Housing in Barcelona, where 93 grassroots movements from 22 countries and 4 continents came together to learn from each other and strengthen our common struggle. Together, we decided to organize a global day of action to fight back for the right to housing and the city.

Domplein Saturday May 10 at 2:00 PM.

We are fed up with the annual rent increases! After the unprecedented rent increases of last year, we can expect significant increases again this year. A huge rent explosion threatens all tenants. On May 10 at 2:00 PM, the housing movement, a coalition of tenant organizations, residents groups and activists, will demonstrate for lower rents.

SUN 2 March, 13:30 – 14:45, Ru Paré, Amsterdam | The already serious housing crisis is only getting worse. Rents and house prices continue to rise, and the lack of affordable housing is increasing. We now have a government that only wants to serve the interests of the real estate sector and home buyers, and mainly offers scapegoat politics and repression for those who disagree. The opposition in parliament seems toothless and powerless.

Today, on International Human Rights Day, young people in the Netherlands are confronting a shameful reality: 40% of all homeless people are under 28 years old. Despite all the promises, the problem is getting bigger. Today they are launching the national campaign 'This is not normal?!', supported by dozens of social organizations throughout the Netherlands.

By young people, for young people

Early 2023, Ben and his girlfriend Ilona reported to BPW Den Haag with an upcoming eviction from housing corporation Hof Wonen. Within two weeks, they would be evicted from their demolition house on Stuwstraat in The Hague. After the death of his sister, for whom he fulfilled the role of informal caregiver for several years, Hof Wonen did not allow him to take over the lease. In the meantime, more than a year and a half have passed and Ben and Ilona have been made homeless for the third time. They are now staying at a campsite on their last money. BPW Den Haag is starting a crowdfunding to support them in the coming months with their living expenses and accommodation costs.

In March 2022, Klaas moves into a room in a shared home in Utrecht with a temporary contract, with the prospect of a permanent contract. Despite this promise, the tenant receives a letter a year later stating that he and two other housemates must vacate their room, but a telephone conversation with landlord Amita reveals that they are allowed to continue living in their room if they deregister with the municipality and switch to paying the rent in cash. With a view to the future sale of the property and the possible introduction of the Affordable Rent Act, Amita, owner of six properties, does not want to offer the tenants a permanent contract, but clearly does not want to miss out on rental income either. For Klaas, cooperating seems to be the only option at that time to avoid losing the roof over his head, and in the meantime this situation has continued since March 2023. Nevertheless, the landlord now demands that the tenants vacate the property by 31 August, so that she can sell it without them for a higher price. Unacceptable for Klaas, who cannot find another place to live.

After more than a decade of tourism, short-term stays and unbearable housing price growth, the limit has been reached for Lisbon residents. Thousands protested and took to the streets to demand an end to evictions and to demand the right to live and the city. However, the Portuguese government has consistently refused to take action. The local population is not taken into account. It is being pushed away and has to move due to pressure from both national and international real estate and tourism investors.

Woonopstand will take action against Dutch real estate profiteers at the national real estate fair Provada on June 11 at 1 p.m. Parasitic real estate investors, private (large) landowners, slum landlords and other predatory investors come together here. They make the lives of many hundreds of thousands of people miserable. Participants in this fair are responsible for all kinds of abuses in the housing market. Insecurity, flexibilization, evictions, unaffordability, fraud, gentrification, you name it. On June 11, they will negotiate, also together with municipalities and government agencies, about the future of our living environment. The consequences of this public-private partnership are destroying lives and making people homeless. That has to stop!

About forty people participated this morning in the action “Freeze the rent”, organized by a coalition of SP Den Haag, Bond Precaire Woonvorms Den Haag (BPW), The Hague City Party and Wij refuse the rent increase. The protest took place in front of the entrance to the office of housing association Haag Wonen on Waldorpstraat and was aimed at the highest rent increase in thirty years that housing associations in The Hague want to introduce.

An estimated eighty people took part last night in the militant protest action in front of Rotterdam city hall, which was organized by Woonopstand, in collaboration with the Bond Precaire Woonvorms (BPW). The action was aimed against the new housing vision of the municipality of Rotterdam, about which the city council met last night.