A Caring City
On average, a person who lives in the neighbourhood of Rotterdam-South will live 5 to 6 years shorter than someone who lives in the Prins Alexander or Nesselande district. These shocking statistics show how care for Rotterdammers is linked to various forms of exclusion.
This is what happens in the neighbourhoods where people are poorer, where more Black people and people of colour live, where there’s cheaper housing and where there is less chance of getting a good education.
Rotterdam BIJ1 does not look at challenges in isolation. We look for the places where they intersect or overlap. We also look at people who are lonely or depressed and at people who are overweight. We come up with plans for meeting places, outdoor sports and sufficient and healthy food!
We are here for the most vulnerable Rotterdammers. With the use of knowledge gained through experience and district committees, we provide care that suits people's needs. These are our plans:
- Additional research into the health differences between the neighbourhoods.
- District committees where residents create and discuss their plans for care in the neighbourhood.
- The district nurses are reinstated and connect with the district committees. This way, we can find people in the neighbourhoods who are not receiving any care at the moment, but who do need it.
- Municipal information desks (“Vraagwijzers”) should be located in the District Houses.
- Make the training of experiential experts in mental healthcare free of charge.
- More funding to train the staff of the “Vraagwijzer”, so they can immediately assign the correct assistance to people.
- More attention to the attitude of employees towards people who need care. We will tackle any sign of discrimination.
- Clear information about applying for care and easy access to care via the GP, schools and the JIP (Youth Information Point). Especially for people who currently often miss out on care, such as homeless young people.
- Remove the strict age limit from youth care. When you turn 18, care should not suddenly stop!
- Helping young people with complex problems with bespoke care.
- Abolish the personal contribution in the Social Support Act (WMO).
- More peer-to-peer assistance, such as De Wachtverzachter. Young people are confronted with long waiting lists; and while they wait for help, their problems increase.
- Interpreters who can be contacted by the “Vraagwijzer”, the Child and Family Centre (CJG) and the GP for help and support.
- Sheltering homeless Rotterdammers with Smart Shelters, which provide both shelter and assistance.
- Welcoming refugees according to the approach by Stichting Nieuw Thuis, where we offer refugees extensive help in finding their feet in the city.
- Improve access to care and employ street doctors for undocumented and homeless people.
- A gender department in the Erasmus MC and good trans care within the municipality.
- Build more neighbourhood care homes, because in addition to good care, all elderly people deserve social contact.
- Continue visits to 75+ senior citizens in Rotterdam. We will lower that age to 70+.
- More funding to make sport available for everyone. Sports should be safe, also for women, 8 LGBTQIA+ people and disabled people.
- More funding for the School Sports Association. All schools in Rotterdam should get sufficient opportunities to let pupils play sports.
- Create more outdoor spaces for skaters, dancers and freerunners.
- A food security plan, ensuring that everyone who lives or resides in our city will always have enough, healthy food.