Living & Daily Life

In case of immediate danger, call the emergency number of the Netherlands: 112. For less urgent issues, please read the information on refugeehelp.nl/safety. Even if you suspect coercion or exploitation, you can read there about how to recognize it and what to do next.

You can also increase your personal safety by keeping your personal possessions, such as your wallet, telephone and passport, close to hand. Make sure that friends or family know where you are and where you are going and, if necessary, agree a code word which you can use in the event of danger.

If you travel in some other way, for example by taxi or bus, make sure you travel safely. Inform friends or family members about your location and, if necessary, send a photo of the taxi driver’s licence. You should avoid getting into cars if the driver does not allow you to take photos. If something seems suspicious, you should get out immediately.

Legal advice

Do you want to know what your rights are or are you facing legal proceedings? For more information about Legal Assistance, go to refugeehelp.nl/legal-advice.

You can also attend the legal consultation hour at Palianytsia.hub at Torenstraat 3. You can find more information on their Instagram channel and in their WhatsApp group.

Anyone who

• cannot or does not wish to live in a municipal reception centre or a host family
• and has sufficient income,

may independently seek alternative accommodation. You can find more information on this at refugeehelp.nl/permanent-housing.

Please note:

• The living allowance is not the same as income, because it is not income from work. You are entitled to living allowance if you live in a municipal reception centre or host family and have no income from work. If you rent a house or room independently, this right to living allowance will lapse. If you nevertheless start living in a rented property while one of your family members is still receiving the living allowance, Report it to leefgeld@amersfoort.nl. Because otherwise you will have to pay it back later.
• You may also receive a tax assessment (tax demand) for local taxes if you independently rent or purchase a place to live. If you don't have enough income to pay for that, Send an email to belastingen@amersfoort.nl to see how we can help you with this.

Be aware that the costs of independent living are much higher than in a reception centre. You can find more information about this on the website moveria.nl/verhuizen.

Additions to this for the housing market in the Amersfoort region:

1. For social housing:
   1. You cannot rent social housing (or follow an official ‘integration process’) with a temporary residency status (RTB). Do you think that you will want to stay in the Netherlands for the next few years? If so, it is advisable to apply for social housing as soon as possible to build up waiting time. Because the waiting time for housing is longer than that for a residence permit. You can register through Woningneteemvallei/DAK/inschrijven. To find out what is actually needed to move into a social rental home, please visit refugeehelp.nl/permanent-housing.
   2. Do you have a regular residency status? For example, on the basis of work, study or asylum? Then you can rent a social housing property. Register (see a.) and respond to social housing properties that are allocated by lottery; your position on the waiting list will then not be taken into account. You can find these homes on Woningneteemvallei/DAK/woningaanbod, click on ‘Loting’.
      Depending on your income and the price of the accommodation, you may also be entitled to housing benefit. For more information on this, see the Tax Administration/benefits-Ukraine website. Note that your partner's income (even if they live in Ukraine) also counts!
2. For a rental property in the free sector:
   1. Also check Woningneteemvallei/DAK/woningaanbod. Click on ‘Vrije sector’.
   2. In addition, the housing association Alliantie also features Amersfoort’s housing on offer on its own site and you can look on the website funda.nl (click on ‘rent’).
   3. Also ask your employer, colleagues and acquaintances whether they know of anyone who is offering (temporary) accommodation.
3. Anti-squat housing or vacancy management: You can ‘guard’ an empty building at a very low rent by moving in. It is important that you know that you have to get out when the owner decides to sell, demolish or renovate the property. Sometimes you don't know until shortly beforehand. You can find more information on the  indebuurt.nl/antikraak website. Camelot has since become Monoma and Gapph is also an important provider in Amersfoort.
4. If you have a permanent residence permit, sufficient (fixed) income and/or assets and you want to settle in the Netherlands longer, you can buy a house on the private housing market or through your own network.
   1. Inquire about the possibilities with a real estate agent or with the Amersfoort housing associations on the website funda.nl.

If you have never bought a house before, Then the municipality of Amersfoort can help with a starter loan, see our webpage for more information on the starter loan.

Clothing bank

If you need clothes and do not have enough money to buy them in a shop, you can visit Clothing bank Amersfoort. You do need a referral letter for that first. You can get it by emailing leefgeld@amersfoort.nl.

Charity classroom [Weggeeflokaal]

People who have a low income (such as no more than a living allowance) can take 6 clothing items or toys from the Charity classroom [Weggeeflokaal] once a month. This facility is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 09:30 - 16:00 at the MBO Amersfoort building, Leusderweg 30-34, 3817 KB Amersfoort. It is an initiative of the MBO school students. You can walk in without an appointment or make an appointment via 0628361169 or via weggeeflokaalamersfoort@gmail.com.

Furniture

Of course, you can go to local thrift stores, but also have a look at refugeehelp.nl/marketplace or Goods for Refugees.

At our reception centres, only a limited number of places are suitable for living with a pet. That is why people are not supposed to get new pets. People who already have a pet, are allowed to keep it. Refugees who are newly arriving from Ukraine with a pet will only be given a place in the municipal reception centres in Amersfoort if a suitable place is available (and they meet the other conditions). More information about pets in the Netherlands: These are the rules if you want to bring pets to the Netherlands - RefugeeHelp