We joined outreach workers Glenn and Carmen Rose for an evening shift. We started at the Poeldijkstraat shelter in Amsterdam, an HVO-Querido location where residents and staff share an evening meal together. From there, we got into the car and headed into the city.
Based on previous encounters, Glenn and Carmen Rose had mapped out a route to visit people experiencing homelessness whom they regularly check in on. Taking a moment to see how they were doing, offering support where needed, and sometimes handing out a Shelterbag or Sheltersuit.
It quickly became clear that no outreach shift ever goes exactly as planned.
The Mobile Team knows the city like no one else. Using a digital map, they keep track of locations where people are staying. Some places are temporary, while others have existed for years. But behind every pin on the map is a person with their own story.
During the drive, Glenn told us about the people they visit regularly, people who, in some cases, have been living on the streets for years. Some stay in tents or makeshift shelters they have built themselves. Others move from place to place to avoid being noticed.
What stands out is how important trust is. Not everyone is willing to share their name or be registered straight away. That becomes understandable when you consider how often people have been let down by systems and institutions. That is why support often begins not with paperwork, but with a conversation. A cup of coffee, a visit, simply being present. These first moments of contact lay an important foundation for building trust and creating opportunities for further support.
As the rain continued to fall, we made our way to visit a man from Poland. He was sitting alone on a bench in a park, soaked through and visibly cold. Despite his circumstances, he greeted us warmly and with a smile.
We were able to give him a Shelterbag. His reaction left an impression on us. He accepted it immediately, and his gratitude was unmistakable.
Later that evening, we also handed out a Shelterbag to a man staying at a Salvation Army shelter who had expressed a wish to have one. Moments like these highlight just how essential warmth and protection are, especially on rainy nights, for people who do not have a safe place to call home.
Halfway through the evening, a phone call came in. A woman in urgent need of help was standing outside a Salvation Army location. She was cold, looking for a sleeping bag to get through the night, and was also being harassed by an unknown man.
Without hesitation, we changed our route. We drove to her location and offered support. As the rain continued to fall, Carmen Rose did everything she could to find a safe place for the woman to stay. Eventually, she succeeded in securing emergency accommodation for her somewhere in Amsterdam.
For us, this was one of the most meaningful moments of the evening. It was reassuring to know that we could help bring her to a safe place, where she could spend the night warm, protected, and out of harm’s way.
During the drive, Glenn and Carmen Rose also spoke about the challenges they face in their work. About long waiting lists, overcrowded shelters, and systems that are struggling to cope. About people who need help, while appropriate support is not always immediately available.
Yet every evening, they continue to go out into the city. Because behind every encounter lies an opportunity. Because a conversation can be the beginning of trust. Because a Shelterbag can keep someone dry during a rainy night. And because sometimes, a single phone call can mean that someone does not have to sleep outside.
At the end of the evening, it was that last thought that stayed with us the most. Not every problem had been solved. Not everyone had found an immediate way out of their situation. But one woman was able to spend the night warm, safe, and protected. And several others received a Shelterbag, helping them stay dry and sheltered through the night.
Sometimes, that is where change begins.
Every night, thousands of people in the Netherlands sleep outside without a safe place to go. With a Shelterbag or Sheltersuit, we provide immediate protection from cold, rain, and wind to people experiencing homelessness.
Would you like to help provide a warm and safe night for someone without a home? Make a donation and help us make more Shelterbags available to the people who need them most.
