Problem addressed

Rotterdam is the poorest city in the Netherlands. About 18.5 percent of Rotterdammers live below the poverty line. That is more than 87,000 Rotterdammers who can no longer provide for the basic necessities of life. In some districts of the city, a quarter to a third of the inhabitants live in poverty. One in every six children in Rotterdam grows up in a poor family. 

Of these people in poverty, more than half have been living on a low income for four years or more. These people have no financial reserves. A financial setback has major consequences. Small debts grow into substantial amounts, partly due to collection costs associated with these debts

Innovative solution

In 2016, the Pauluskerk (a church) started the Warm Rotterdam program. In 2019, Warm Rotterdam became an independent foundation. We are a network organisation of experts and partners. Our experts are experts by experience. Our partners include companies, the government and civil society organisations. Together we are committed to reducing the number of Rotterdammers in poverty. We raise awareness about poverty and develop effective approaches. To this end, we mobilize and bundle the knowledge and experiences of Rotterdammers who know what it is like to live in poverty and with debts. Additionally, we put system errors on the agenda and we encourage everyone to support our goal of chasing poverty out of the city

Our experts by experience are the basis of Warm Rotterdam. We listen to them because they know how disruptive (long-term) living in poverty and debt is. They also know what would have helped them. Their knowledge and skills are the basis for 1) campaigns, 2) for putting things on the agenda for policy and administration, and 3) for stimulating companies, social organisations and residents in the city. 
 

Key results and benefits

We come up with concrete solutions, such as sample letters, the basic shopping list (de basisboodschappenlijst), the Tobia (Tijdelijke Overbruggingskrediet Burgers in Armoede), Warm Consultation Hours and the Quality Mark Warm Collection (Keurmerk Warm Incasseren). 

We make Rotterdam aware of poverty, for example through our YouTube campaigns ‘Armoede Voor Beginners’ en ‘Rotterdam slaat terug tegen armoede’or the '50 euro challenge' in which we challenged politicians to live on 50 euros a week.

Potential for mainstreaming

Many of the products that stem from Warm Rotterdam are suitable for mainstreaming. When considering mainstreaming of the network as a whole, it is important to consider two key elements. First off, Warm Rotterdam is a bottom up initiative. Ideally, citizens and experts by experience would be the driving forces in such a network. Secondly, experts by experience are vital sources of knowledge and guidance. Their involvement is key.