Knowledge by, for and about newcomers

Knowledge by, for and about newcomers

Expert pool of flow-through sites

Project

Expertpool flow-through locations Province of Utrecht

Client

Opportunity Makers, Province of Utrecht

Duration

November 2023 - January 2024

Product

Reporting and consideration framework for flow-through sites.

Project description

The Province of Utrecht gives priority to developing and testing flow-through locations. These are locations where newcomers stay who are linked to a municipality, but do not yet have housing there. Here they can make a start with integration while waiting for permanent housing. The Province would like to include the perspective of newcomers themselves. Uniquely, the province has linked a small implementing organization: the Opportunity Makers. They try from different domains and themes to improve and make sustainable the housing of newcomers in all municipalities.

Preconditions from the perspective of newcomers

In the flow-through locations expert pool, we enter into discussions with newcomers about the needs, ideas, obstacles and opportunities surrounding flow-through locations. Using our expert pool method we gather input from newcomers (the experts) in order to draw up to draw up solid preconditions from their perspective: what exactly is important, what are the minimum requirements for a flow-through location? And taking into account the possibilities: what is the desired situation for a flow-through location?

You want to network in the place where you are going to live, start language classes: start building your life. In the AZC this is often not possible yet, because you are not in the municipality to which you are linked.

Results & insights

Many experts (newcomers) see the added value of the expert pool of transit sites for site development. Especially when this goes along with an early start in the municipality they are linked to.

Consideration framework for flow-through locations

With the results of the expert pool of flow-through sites, a consideration framework was designed that can be used in the development of flow-through sites. This includes the themes of privacy, encounter, autonomy and accessibility central. These themes touch on both physical and social characteristics of a flow-through location. For each theme, a minimum baseline was then established, as well as a desired situation.

"It is very important for people to have the opportunity to be able to start; in the AZC this is often not possible yet, because you are not in the municipality to which you are linked. You want to have a network in the place where you are going to live, start language classes: start building your life."

Relevant articles

Integration through the eyes of newcomers

First research report from OpenEmbassy into the Integration Act 2021 from the perspective of newcomers integrating in the Netherlands.

Path to integration full of bumps - Article Domestic Administration

People integrating in the Netherlands must "quickly and fully participate in society, preferably through paid work": the Integration Act. The...

Integration through the eyes of newcomers

First research report from OpenEmbassy into the Integration Act 2021 from the perspective of newcomers integrating in the Netherlands.

Path to integration full of bumps - Article Domestic Administration

People integrating in the Netherlands must "quickly and fully participate in society, preferably through paid work": the Integration Act. The...

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This project was supervised by:

project manager

Eva Halverhout

Community builder & researcher