The municipality is providing temporary housing for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers in Geldrop at De Spaarpot

The Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA) investigated whether the young people could be temporarily housed elsewhere in the region, but was unable to find a suitable location. This temporary arrangement will allow the young people to remain in Geldrop until the new facility is completed. As a result, the total duration of their stay at De Spaarpot will remain unchanged and, in accordance with previous agreements, will run through September 1, 2029.

Tolerance Decision

The municipal executive will issue a tolerance decision for this purpose, thereby allowing the temporary use of the location for this purpose. The temporary facility can accommodate up to 54 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and will be used exclusively as a stopgap measure between the end of the current shelter at De Akert and the opening of the new building at De Spaarpot. 

“This is not an obvious choice, but an exceptional solution that is appropriate given the unique situation that has arisen. With this decision, the municipality is consciously choosing to make an extra effort to prevent this vulnerable group of young people from being temporarily dispersed across the country. By allowing them to remain in Geldrop-Mierlo, the continuity of their shelter, education, support, and social environment can be maintained as much as possible,” explains Alderman Bijl.

Peace, Continuity, and Perspective

The on-site shelter at De Akert was established thanks to a collaboration between the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), Anna Zorggroep, and the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo. Thanks to the temporary facility at De Spaarpot, the young people can remain in their familiar surroundings. “Stability is particularly important for unaccompanied minor refugees. Here, they attend school, learn Dutch, build their future, and have established a social network. We therefore believe it is important that these young people can remain in Geldrop until the new shelter at De Spaarpot is ready. With this temporary facility, we are ensuring peace of mind, continuity, and a sense of hope,” said the Alderman.

Three Years at the De Akert Shelter

When the reception center opened its doors at De Akert in 2023, it sparked many questions, concerns, and discussions in the neighborhood. The arrival of the center understandably brought uncertainty and caused some unrest in the early days. In the years that followed, the COA, Anna Zorggroep, and the municipality of Geldrop-Mierlo worked closely together to carefully organize the shelter, maintain dialogue with local residents, and strengthen ties with the surrounding community. Open communication, accessibility, and regular consultations with a core group of local residents were central to this effort. This joint effort has resulted in a shelter where young people, local residents, and involved organizations have gotten to know one another and found common ground.

Pride

“We are proud to look back on a period during which the shelter operation went smoothly and in which the young people, local residents, and involved organizations were able to come together. On behalf of the city council, I would like to thank the local residents for their commitment, understanding, and constructive attitude. Thanks in part to this, we were able to successfully organize this shelter,” said Alderman .

Provide a stable environment

For 54 young people, Akert has been much more than just a shelter over the past three years. “It was a place where they could find peace, go to school, make friends, and work toward their future. We are immensely grateful for the neighborhood’s involvement, the dedication of the volunteers, and the pleasant collaboration with the municipality and Anna Zorggroep. Thanks to these joint efforts, we were able to offer these young people a safe and stable environment. We are therefore pleased that they can remain in Geldrop and that we will soon be able to continue providing shelter at De Spaarpot,” said COA location manager Beja van der Most.

Planning

In the coming period, the temporary facility will be built on the same site as the permanent shelter. As soon as the new building is ready, the young people will move to this building within the same site. The work will include preparing the site for construction, installing the temporary housing units, and setting up the necessary facilities. The plan is for the temporary facility to be ready by the end of August, so that the young people can move there before the De Akert shelter closes.