Dakloze Anna slaapt in zelfgemaakt tentenkampje

Next month, the municipality will release the latest figures on the number of homeless people in the city. This number is likely to be considerably higher than during the previous survey, when it was around 15,000. Shelters are filling up in more and more places. One alternative homeless people in several locations throughout the city are choosing is to build their own tent camp, in plain sight. One of the homeless people living in such a homemade tent camp is Anna, born in the Czech Republic. For about two months now, she has been sleeping in a tent in a wooded area near the homeless shelters on Transformatorweg in West. She receives care from a mobile team at HVO-Querido, but she can't sleep there because she has a pet, an owl named Atlas. "This is my tent, bought for fourteen euros," she says. "When I bought it, they said it could fit three people. Well, that's three very small people," she says, laughing. But the tent is big enough for one person. And an owl. That owl is called Atlas and is about seven years old. "If I had to go on without her, it would be tragic for both of us," says Anna. "I've had her since she was two weeks old. I've been giving her physical therapy since she was attacked by a dog. I never leave her alone." After she had to leave 't Landje in the Westelijk Havengebied (Western Docklands), Anna went looking for a new place to sleep near the shelter. An important condition for her: a place with others. "Then I feel safe, but not alone." She found that company in Lukas, a Polish woman. "She's happy because she's not alone, and it's better for me too," says Lukas, who wants to remain anonymous. "We laugh a lot and eat together. And that's wonderful." Another condition for Anna in her search for a new place to sleep was that it shouldn't be too remote. "If I were to move to a different place where I'm not visible, I wouldn't be visible to people who could help me if someone attacked me," says Anna. Anna and Lukas's tent encampment isn't an isolated incident. There are also a few tents on Jan Evertsenstraat in Nieuw-West, under an overpass, and they're even more visible than Anna's. Since June, the municipality has stopped fining homeless people for sleeping outside. However, it's struggling with these kinds of tent encampments in public spaces. Regarding the tent encampment in Nieuw-West, a municipality spokesperson said: "We are aware of this. Outreach efforts have been monitoring this group for some time. They're keeping a close eye on things, but the group refuses to cooperate in accessing available care services. Residents of this encampment have been asked to remove the encampment, and a notice of eviction has been issued to the residents." Even for homeless people who are eligible for shelter, there's often not enough room, according to the municipality. The homeless office, De Straatalliantie, emphasizes the right to shelter and says the municipality can do more. The municipality itself says it is already actively working to prevent and address homelessness, but also points to The Hague: "The problem is extensive, and it would be good if national policy focused more on tackling homelessness. This involves financial support, but especially the construction of housing with a focus on affordable housing." For Anna, things do seem to be looking up. A spokesperson for HVO-Querido says that she is being considered and that they are exploring options to admit her, along with her owl. ❌ ❌ ❌ AT5 - Real Amsterdam News Subscribe to our YouTube channel here:    / at5   Tips or comments? WhatsApp: 06 511 909 38 Phone: 020 555 1155 Follow AT5: www.at5.nl Instagram: instagram.com/at5.nl Facebook: facebook.com/at5nl Twitter: twitter.com/at5