Municipality of West Maas en Waal, De Kernen, and Residents' Council sign performance agreements
Caring neighborhoods, sufficient affordable and suitable housing, livability, and sustainability. These major themes and their concrete implementation are set out in the performance agreements that the municipality, together with Woonstichting De Kernen and its Residents' Council, drew up and signed on October 10.
Over the past few months, there has been a lot of consultation to reach clear agreements. We have taken a close look at what needs to be done between now and 2025. And, above all, how the parties will tackle this together. Alderman Marieke van den Boom-Witzel: "It is essential to take a different approach to major challenges, because no single party can do this alone. Good cooperation is essential to achieve sustainable results. The sooner we identify interests, ideas, opportunities, and challenges, the more we can strengthen each other. And the better the result."
Take a different approach
It also means accepting that this is a quest for everyone, but that everyone's insight and participation is desired. A concrete example is the question: how do you encourage people to continue living at home for as long as possible while the number of elderly people is increasing and the number of healthcare workers is decreasing? A healthcare institution or housing association cannot come up with a solution for this on its own. They need the input of elderly people and local residents. Marinus Kempe, director-manager of Woonstichting De Kernen: "Look at this through the eyes of someone looking for housing, for example, or someone with a care need. How do you find suitable housing? It is important to bring up the issues we are all concerned about, because that way we also feel the same urgency and desire to work on them."
The Residents' Council is pleased with the new agreements. Ms. Verbruggen, chair of the Residents' Council, says: "We want to see resilient neighborhoods with good support for people who need care, a good and safe living environment in new and existing neighborhoods, sufficient basic facilities, and certainly not forgetting young people."
Concrete actions
The parties jointly draw up an implementation plan for each year. In this plan, they agree on the actions they will take in the coming year. In 2024, the main focus will be on increasing the number of construction plans with sufficient housing in the affordable and social segments. And the realization of relocatable homes in various village centers as temporary housing for young people who are currently unable to find regular housing in their own area.
Why performance agreements in the Netherlands?
Municipalities, housing associations, and tenant organizations are working together to create a future-proof, vibrant, attractive, and sustainable housing stock. They are doing this primarily for the target groups of social housing, in centers and neighborhoods where it is pleasant to live.