Housing shortage is high

In the theme issue 'Good employees are worth their weight in gold' of Leiden INTO Business, author Dennis Captein puts his finger on the sore spot of the housing problem and its consequences. The housing shortage is high, and without Eastern European workers, the Netherlands has a major problem... Due to a housing shortage, economic growth is under pressure. The main causes of this are:

• The recovery of the housing market, which means fewer temporary homes are available
• Greater need for housing quality: higher demands on space and privacy
• Municipal policy: only limited permission is given for new alternative locations

But, Captein argues, we are now seeing that the number of sound homes for migrant workers is growing, and the nuisance as a result is decreasing. We are not there yet: there is still a considerable gap to be closed. In the area between the four major cities, there is a shortage of no less than ten thousand homes for migrant workers.

"A major joint effort is needed to realize sufficient housing for migrant workers. From the business community, but certainly also from municipalities. The need is high, the economic interest is great, and therefore aldermen in our country must pay more attention to the problem of housing for migrant workers."

Read more via https://issuu.com/intobusiness/docs/leiden_lente2019/10