A diverse neighbourhood in Utrecht including vulnerable people

Green Sticht is a mixed housing project set up to reintegrate homeless people by giving them a home in an attractive area to live, to work and spend leisure time. It is an alternative and unique way of supporting the... [ view full abstract ]

Green Sticht is a mixed housing project set up to reintegrate homeless people by giving them a home in an attractive area to live, to work and spend leisure time. It is an alternative and unique way of supporting the independent living of vulnerable citizens, creating a brand new neighborhood based on the principle of integrating self-reliant residents with socially vulnerable ones. It thus avoids any “not-in-my-backyard” sentiment towards vulnerable people since only those who accept their presence move to the neighborhood. On site are a thrift store, a workshop recycling furniture, and a restaurant employing people with intellectual disabilities. Green Sticht has not been entirely successful in work integration, which with hindsight was seen as too ambitious for the highly vulnerable people who live there. Nevertheless it successfully created and maintained a mixed, integrated neighbourhood offering favourable conditions for the integration of socially vulnerable groups. The main mechanisms for this success are related to the particular structure of the foundation and the cooperation with partner organisations. It is a small, agile organization. Partners can be added easily if necessary, and innovation within the individual organisations will automatically be reflected in their activities in the Green Sticht. Green Sticht had funding at the start but has become financially sustainable. The foundation owns the real estate and generates its own income.  The direct costs of the foundation and the residents’ association are low. Maintenance of buildings and the salary of the part-time co-ordinator are met out of rental income. Support work is based on volunteering mainly by self-reliant residents.  Entrepreneurial activities that generate income include the restaurant and selling reconditioned furniture.