The Waleweingaarde emergency shelter will not reopen

During work carried out on the premises, materials containing asbestos were discovered. As a precaution, the residents were temporarily relocated to another accommodation centre. The COA subsequently made every effort to decontaminate and repair the living areas so that accommodation could be safely resumed.

However, it appears that it will not be feasible to reopen the site in the short term. The emergency accommodation could then only be used for a few more months, until 31 May 2027 at the latest, and for a limited number of people. After that, the residents would have to move again to another accommodation site.

Having weighed up all the factors, the local authority and the COA have therefore decided to no longer use the site for emergency accommodation. According to both parties, the costs and effort required to prepare the site for this purpose again are disproportionate to the short period for which the accommodation could subsequently be used.

The location remains under consideration for permanent accommodation

The Waleweingaarde remains under consideration as a potential site for permanent accommodation. No decision has yet been taken on this matter. The standard procedure is being followed, including public consultation. Further details will be announced as soon as they become available.

Further information about the Waleweingaarde Emergency Shelter