Evaluatie Woonoverlastnetwerken Utrecht: extern tevredenheidsonderzoek in opdracht van U-Centraal

Abstract

Due to societal developments much has changed in the approach of welfare work in the Netherlands. U-Centraal, a welfare organization in Utrecht, asked to examine to what extent the method of solving extreme habitational nuisance of the ‘Woononverlastnetwerken’ in Utrecht has been adapted successfully to these developments and what improvements can be made. In order to measure the success, 15 network partners were interviewed by means of semi-structured interviews. They were asked to what extent their method of solving extreme habitational nuisance met the four goals of decentralization; a) an integrated approach; b) customization; c) effectiveness and d) democratization. It can be concluded that the network partners are in general positive about the method and agree that it has an integrated approach which leads to customization, effectiveness and less home evictions, what enables the target group of the Woonoverlastnetwerken to participate in society. The main point of improvement is the communication, responsibility attunement and the exchange of information with the ‘buurtteams’; the newest network partner in the Woonoverlastnetwerken. This research also adds to knowledge of how well the goals of decentralization are met at a local scale and how they are adjusted to it.