A call from the COA
On 12 April 2023, we picked up a call from the COA (Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers), the Dutch agency responsible for the reception of asylum seekers. The message was urgent: five hundred refugees at Breepark in Breda needed a safe place to stay, and they needed it fast.
Turning an empty hall into somewhere to feel safe
We got to work straight away with our partner The Sleeping Agency (TSA), who took care of everything on site while we focused on what we do best. Together we turned an empty hall in Breepark into a livable, secure space, in under four days, for five hundred people who had nowhere else to go.
Privacy and comfort, not just capacity
Filling a hall with beds is the easy part. Making it feel like somewhere people can actually rest is not. That is why the beds were arranged in short rows rather than long, open lines, giving every person a bit more privacy in a shared space. Each sleeping unit came with the essentials that make a difference after a journey like this:
- A locker, for the few belongings someone manages to carry with them.
- A sleeping bag and sheets.
- A power bank, small on its own, but a real connection to family and information when it matters most.
More than a place to sleep
People arriving in a situation like this need more than a bed. That is why we also set up dedicated first aid, medical care, psychological support and safety units alongside the sleeping area, so the people staying there were looked after, not just housed.
Recognised by COA
This was never just about beds. It was about a team and a partner moving fast, together, when time mattered most. The COA rated the service as outstanding afterwards, which mattered to us less as a score and more as confirmation that the people who needed help that week actually got it.
Ready for when it happens again
Our commitment to this kind of work has not changed. We are proud to have been part of this project, and we stay ready to respond just as quickly the next time a call like this comes in.
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