“I would so love to show a really real picture of homelessness in Eindhoven.”
What exactly is team outreach and what do they deal with? We put that question to Edwin, staff member in Springplank's outreach team:
“As an outreach team, we go out and try to get in touch with homeless people, both in the basic facilities where they stay and on the streets. We make the connection and try to gain their trust and then find out their care request so that we can guide them to the right help. We find that not everyone dares to ask the care question, but by keeping in touch and asking questions, they often still dare to admit to themselves that they need help. We at Springplank mainly walk around Eindhoven city centre and at the basic facilities, but we collaborate with other outreach teams in Eindhoven, giving us a good picture of homelessness in Eindhoven.”
But what is actually done with the reports that come in?
“Going out there also means that we respond to nuisance reports reported to us by local residents. When a report comes to us, we respond immediately to find out what is going on and start a conversation with the people. We take this very seriously and include the places these reports come from in our daily routes. We then try to map out who they are and try to build a rapport with them.”
Now we wonder, what kind of reports are coming in?
“Around shelter locations, we sometimes receive reports, which we can't always do much with. After all, a report about a shelter resident walking around is not a nuisance, because they are free to go wherever they want. Nevertheless, we always respond to these and enter into a dialogue with the people.
When there are gatherings and littering, there is a nuisance. I must honestly admit that there are some of our own people in here too, but we actively deal with this. By walking by and talking to them several times a day, we notice that it becomes a lot quieter and the nuisance is reduced.”
“Fair is fair, there are some homeless people who behave anti-socially towards the neighbourhood and with this a certain image is formed about homelessness, a certain stigma. But this is actually not at all fair to the residents in the shelters who have had just a bit too much bad luck, ended up on the streets because of it and are now working to get their lives back on track. I would so love to show a real picture of homelessness in Eindhoven, because people should know. Then that prejudice will come off.”
