In Amsterdam, winter shelters and winter cold storage are run on behalf of the municipality by implementing organizations De Regenboog Groep, HVO-Querido and the Salvation Army. What exactly do these forms of shelter for homeless people entail and what is the difference?
Regular winter shelter (WKO)
The municipality of Amsterdam ensures that there is regular winter shelter at night for homeless people in the city. This night shelter will be open from December 1, 2023 to April 1, 2024. This means that there will be four consecutive months of shelter, regardless of the temperature. In total, the municipality of Amsterdam offers some 250 shelters at various locations around the city. Of these, De Regenboog Groep is taking care of 90: 60 spots at our winter shelter location on Slotermeerlaan and 30 in the walk-in centres.
The regular winter shelter is intended for vulnerable, homeless people who have been staying in the Amsterdam region for a long time. They have ties to the city, for example through work or family. A prerequisite for this form of shelter is that people cooperate with perspective. Solutions to underlying problems are sought and, if necessary, people are linked to appropriate care. Vulnerable, undocumented people can also report to the winter shelter.
.Winter shelter (WKR)
The Winter Chill Scheme is temporary night shelter for homeless people and goes into effect when the wind chill at night is below zero. Or when there is extreme wind or other weather conditions that make it dangerous to sleep outside. The winter chill scheme is designed for anyone who is homeless and unable to find shelter on their own. Thus, these people would otherwise be forced to sleep outside. With the winter chill scheme, they are protected at night from potential health damage from the weather.
The GGD 's of the four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) jointly determine when the winter chill regulation takes effect in these cities. The regulation usually lasts for several nights and can take effect several times depending on the weather during the winter months. During the winter chill arrangement, the municipality of Amsterdam is expanding the 250 winter shelter spots by about 200 spots to 450. De Regenboog Groep is expanding the 60 spots at the winter shelter location on Slotermeerlaan to 142 and the 30 spots in the walk-in centres to about 100.
The deals: bed, shower, hot meal and breakfast
.At both shelters, people can enter between 4:30 and 10 p.m. and receive a bed, shower, hot meal and breakfast. The shelter must be left no later than 9:30 a.m. the next morning. Both the winter shelter and the winter cold-weather shelter are free.
Report regular winter shelter
.The screening desk for the regular winter shelter (WKO) on Jan van Galenstraat is open Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Here a staff member of the GGD determines whether someone may use the winter shelter and at which shelter that person can go.
Address: Jan van Galenstraat 323, entrance B
.Reporting winter cold snap
From the day on which the winter cold weather scheme takes effect, people can report for this at the Special Target Groups Screening Desk on Jan van Galenstraat. This is also open Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. In the case of the winter-cold scheme, people can also report directly to the shelter on Transformatorweg 6 and staff from the outreach teams can ask people on the street to come along.
Address: Jan van Galenstraat 323, entrance B or Transformatorweg 6
Always bring: passport, ID card or residence permit
Always bring proof of identity: a passport, ID card or foreigner's document, such as a residence permit. In the case of missing proof of identity, a call can be made to 020 555 5996 to discuss whether a person can still use the winter shelter or winter cold scheme.
Shelter dog
There is also free overnight shelter for dogs at Dierenopvang Amsterdam (DOA) on Ookmeerweg. The animal ambulance transports the dogs for free between the animal shelter and the night shelter location.
The differences between the two forms of night shelter
.Below is a brief look at the differences between the winter shelter and winter colder arrangements.
Winter shelter (WKO) | Winter cold storage (WKR) |
In Amsterdam | In the four major cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) |
From December 1 to April 1 . | When weather conditions make it dangerous to sleep outside |
Some 250 places in Amsterdam | Expansion to some 450 spots in Amsterdam |
For people with ties to Amsterdam and vulnerable undocumented people | For anyone who is homeless and would otherwise have to sleep outside |
Working for perspective | Emergency Shelter |
Text: Jola Gosen | Image: Ties Berghuis