Last week, our colleague Anne visited Team Veldwerk from the Salvation Army in Roosendaal with a mission: delivering 40 Sheltersuits. The visit left a profound impression, not only because of the innovative aid being provided but also due to the team’s dedication to helping people in need.
A Regional Issue of Great Importance
The connection with the Salvation Army was established thanks to Marga Vonk-Noordegraaf-Dijkers, team manager of the outreach and fieldwork teams. Marga discovered the Sheltersuit Foundation’s products via social media and immediately saw the need for this innovative protection in her region. The team supports people sleeping outside—often those who, due to various circumstances, cannot access shelters or avoid care—and offers them practical assistance.
The waiting list is growing: thirty people are waiting for a place, while many are forced to sleep outside.
- Marga, team manager of the fieldwork team -
Help on the Streets: Building Trust in Difficult Times
The fieldwork team goes beyond providing basic care. They offer direct aid in the form of essential supplies and basic (medical) assistance, building a bridge to more comprehensive help. They arrange postal addresses and even provide wound care for people living on the streets, many of whom cannot access regular healthcare. The emphasis lies on a human-centered approach: standing alongside people, seeking solutions together. The team actively reaches out on the streets and leaves multilingual business cards in places where people may sleep to facilitate contact.
A Warm Solution for Cold Nights
Anne’s visit was prompted by the request for forty Sheltersuits. These suits, functioning as mobile, warm solutions for people experiencing homelessness, were received with enthusiasm. However, the Salvation Army emphasizes that Sheltersuits are not the solution but a temporary aid. They offer a way to support people sleeping outside. The suits not only remain dry and functional during the day but also provide warmth at night—a significant advantage over standard sleeping bags. The suits will be distributed across the region in collaboration with other aid organizations, ensuring that people remain warm and dry, a basic need that, unfortunately, is not guaranteed for everyone.
A Partnership for Hope
The Sheltersuits give the Salvation Army’s fieldworkers an additional tool to help those sleeping on the streets. Anne observed how the Salvation Army addresses this complex issue with a combination of care, humanity, and innovation. By working locally and regionally, the Salvation Army strives to reach as many people experiencing homelessness as possible. For these individuals, receiving a Sheltersuit means not just physical warmth but also a signal that they are not forgotten—that there are people standing beside them, talking with them, and fighting for a better life.
The visit to the Salvation Army highlighted the invaluable work of its team. The Salvation Army and similar organizations dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to supporting a vulnerable group, with an approach that prioritizes dignity and warmth.
