Radical solutions

When alderman Hans Spekman realized that the problems with homelessness inside and outside Hoog Catherijne couldn’t go on this way, he decided to take drastic matters. So when he came into power in januari 2001 he made a video of the situation of the Junk tunnel. The reactions where severe, which allowed him to set up a whole new approach on homelessness. He got the money for creating five homeless shelters, a free heroin programme and a some buildings where one could use drugs legally. The most curious part of this change, was that it actually saved much more money on police, docters and ambulances spendings than this whole project costed in the first place. (Dutch article)

Jan about the user spaces:

“On one side the alcoholics would sit and on the other side the drug users. They carefully divided those groups because they don’t go well together. Alcoholics are very exuberant and users are more inward-looking. In my time, when this was set up, around 2002 and 2003, about hundred people would use this building. In a certain space you could use drugs, you could shower there, drink coffee, eat something. […] And there was always medical staff available. There were these luggage safes, where people that lived on the streets could store their sleeping bags. I would use it to store a six-pack of beer."

Hans Spekman in one of his recognizable sweaters (left) and in his tuxedo as current head of the Dutch labour party (right).