“If it remains out of sight”: Housing governance for refugees and migrant workers in the Netherlands

Abstract

‘If it remains out of sight’ - Housing governance for refugees and migrant workers in the Netherlands In recent years, housing and immigration have become two of the most debated issues in Dutch society. The present dissertation sheds light on decision-making processes in housing provision for refugees and migrant workers from Central and Eastern Europe. The thesis also shows the crucial role that housing plays in people's opportunities to build a living in the first years after arrival. Regarding decision-making processes, the thesis demonstrates that the alleged desires of the general population often drive housing development for migrant workers and refugees. In practice, this translates to pushing migrant workers out of the existing housing stock, stalling the development of housing for migrant workers, and the development of lodging which intends to keep them out of sight. Refugees are also kept out of sight by being forced to live in remote asylum reception centers while they await a decision on their residence permit. After receiving a residence permit, legally recognized refugees are dispersed throughout the country in order to 'spread the burden'. The findings show that these practices can have a negative impact on their ability to build a livelihood in the first years after arrival. Refugees have more difficulty finding employment, enrolling in education, or learning Dutch if they are kept in remote and highly institutionalized reception centers for longer periods of time. Dispersal to places that offer few opportunities also makes it more difficult for them to participate in society. We conclude that being ‘kept out of sight' is detrimental to individual migrants, but also economically costly to society as a whole; delays in refugees' economic integration prolong their dependence on welfare benefits.