that they are struggling to stay afloat due to the delay in the payment of state subsidies. Despite the important role that they play, they are often neglected financially.

At a recent press conference the representatives from several homes such as Stichting Stigesu, Huize Tyltyl, Kennedy Stichting and Anniecreche made it clear that these delays have serious consequences for their daily operations. “Sometimes we have to beg for money or borrow money to pay our employees,” said the director of Stichting Stigesu, Lenny Hardenbol. The representatives made it clear that if things do not change for the better, their organizations would have to be closed down permanently. The organizations that they represent receive state subsidy from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) and the Ministry of Finance and Planning. They were supposed to receive the funds for 2025 in March 2026 but they still have not received anything. The representatives explained that bureaucracy and the lack of coordination between the ministries hampers the payment procedures which is why they have to wait many months for the state subsidy that they are entitled to.

“We hand in all of the documents in February and March and in the past we could get the money in May or June but now the money is transferred in November or December or even after a whole year,” said Hardenbol. The representatives urge the government to take action sooner rather than later. “We do the work of the government but we are being abandoned,” said Hardenbol.