The municipalities of Apeldoorn, Brummen, Epe, Hattem, Heerde and Voorst are working closely together in the field of social care and sheltered housing (MO/BW). The arrangements were set out in a covenant in February 2023. This collaboration is important because, in the coming years, the municipalities face the major challenge of phasing out the number of ‘traditional’ supported housing places and creating more intermediate forms of accommodation within the local community. In other words: more opportunities to provide a ‘supported home’ with good support. In short, care close to where people live.
Regional cooperation
The government wants as many people as possible to be able to live in sheltered accommodation in their own homes, so that they can more easily maintain their social network and participate in society. This will also reduce the need for sheltered accommodation facilities. However, the option of living in sheltered accommodation within a facility will remain available to those who require it. Local authorities are responsible for providing supported housing to anyone who is unable to live independently, for example due to mental health issues. In the Oost-Veluwe region, this concerns around 500 people.
More local care
Anja Prins, Councillor for Care in Apeldoorn: “Our residents stand to benefit from effective regional cooperation, as this enables local authorities to provide the care and support they need more effectively. More local care is a wonderful aim, which is also in the interests of our residents. At the same time, as a society, we face enormous challenges in the Netherlands – due to factors such as an ageing population and staff shortages – in working together to provide everyone with the care they need.”
One regional budget for all
With the introduction of a new ‘objective allocation model’ on 1 January 2024, the central government grant for supported housing will be paid directly to all individual local authorities next year. This is in line with the desired decentralisation. At present, the central government budget is still allocated to all designated central local authorities.
The local authorities in the Oost-Veluwe region have declared their commitment to continued financial solidarity on this issue. This means that the Oost-Veluwe region has chosen to cooperate closely on financial matters and to show solidarity with one another. Together, the six local authorities – using the funds they receive from central government – contribute to a regional budget to jointly finance social care and supported housing. Any windfalls or shortfalls in the regional budget are shared fairly. Apeldoorn acts as the budget holder on behalf of the six local authorities.
Cooperation is crucial
Councillor Prins: “We all agree in this region that cooperation in this area is crucial. To find solutions together and organise care for all our residents as effectively as possible, both now and in the future. I am therefore proud that we are tackling the challenges ahead of us in the Oost-Veluwe region together.”.