The organisation undertook a so-called implementation scan of the proposed bill at the request of the Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning.
COA considers that this amendment would make the whole reception system more unstable, as the changes would come before solutions are identified. Currently, 19,000 people in the reception system is a beneficiary of international protection, and approximately 70% stays longer than the usual 14 weeks in reception, due to a lack of housing in municipalities.
COA expects that in 2026, half of residents will be beneficiaries of international protection. Removing the priority for beneficiaries of international protection in municipality housing means that COA will need significantly more reception places, and will be stuck with emergency reception places for a long time. Emergency reception places are detrimental for residents' wellbeing, the environment and the costs.
The average waiting time for social housing is 7 years. 7% of this housing is allocated to beneficiaries of international protection. Without priority in housing, beneficiaries will need to wait this period in reception, hampering their integration.