EUKN - Netherlands - Project High Clean - The Hague, the Netherlands

Project High Clean - The Hague, the Netherlands

Introduction

In 2000, Project High Clean was started in the Schilderswijk and Regentesse-Valkenboskwartier districts in The Hague as a job opportunities project for problematic drug addicts. In this project, the hard drug users perform cleanup, touch-up and cleaning work in the district for a daily wage of € 20.

Problem

Problematic hard drug users usually do not spend their days usefully. They often receive benefits and try to 'hustle' to get extra money for drugs. In the process they cause a nuisance and make people feel unsafe on the streets.

Description

High Clean is a day labourers’ project: at the end of the working day the participants receive their daily wage of € 20. The work mainly comprises simple sweeping and cleaning work in public areas.

Allowing the drug addicts to work one or two days a week gives them more structure in their lives. The wages that they earn from this work means that they do not resort to crime to get money to pay for drugs. And, with their work, they contribute positively to creating a habitable district.

Approach

The largest part of the participants receives benefits. In most cases, this is social security or disability insurance benefit. The participants know that they may, depending on the type of benefit that they receive, only earn a certain amount per month, which in practice means that they can work once or twice times per week without having their benefits reduced.

Results

For all High Clean projects (in Regentesse-Valkenboskwartier, Schilderswijk, Laak and Transvaal districts), it appears that the enthusiasm of the participants is very high. There is a fixed group of approx. 30 people who work each week.
The project satisfies a clear need of the participants. It breaks up the daily grind and gives a feeling of usefulness.
The image that residents have in the district of drug users has improved.
The aim is to earn back the daily wages from the commissioning parties. In practice, this is usually the City Management Department and housing corporations.
The participants in High Clean can, depending on the type of benefit, earn additional income per month.

Resources used

The High Clean projects are subsidised by the City of The Hague. The aim is to earn back the daily wages from the commissioning parties. In practice, this is usually the City Management Department and housing corporations.

Contact info

City of The Hague
Ms Lisa Oosterdijk, tel. +31 70 3532242

Project start date

01/04/2000

Links

City of The Hague

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services