Exploring the Impact of Anti-Squatting as a Temporary Housing Option on Resident's Housing Career: A case study in the Netherlands

Abstract

This paper examines the housing careers and pathways of individuals who have resided in anti-squatting arrangements as a temporary housing option. Given the housing crisis in the Netherlands, securing affordable housing, especially for young people has become increasingly challenging. While numerous news reports highlight the country's housing crisis, including the lack of availability and high cost of rent, as well as the social implications of this issue, there is a scarcity of academic research and quantitative data regarding anti-squatting and temporary housing arrangements from the perspective of those residing there. Choosing anti-squatting can vary depending on residents’ decisions, but analyzing the experiences of living in this type of arrangement is essential to determine if this specific temporary housing can serve as an interim solution for their housing careers. Examining people’s perspectives on anti-squatting will provide crucial insights for urban development, particularly for new strategies like temporary housing units, and assess whether these are beneficial or disadvantageous given the country's housing crisis. This work provides insights from previous and current residents of anti-squat housing and analyzes how anti-squatting influences their future housing careers and shapes their long-term housing pathways.