Campaign strengthens Heerlen Health community
The municipality of Heerlen, Zuyderland, and housing association Weller are launching a joint initiative to actively link work and housing. With this campaign, we want to focus on reducing staff shortages in the Health strengthening neighborhoods and communities in Heerlen. Healthcare professionals who want to work in Heerlen or are already active in the region will find suitable housing more quickly with this approach. This will enable us to retain talent and attract new talent, both from nearby and further afield. The approach is in line with Heerlen's housing pillars of Investing, Cherishing, and Connecting. It ensures strong and stable neighborhoods with people who keep important facilities running and can also live there.
First success
The first success has already been achieved. Nurse Jordi found a job in the Emergency Department at Zuyderland and a home with Weller in the Maankwartier neighborhood at the same time. This shows how the new approach works. People who do important work for Heerlen can also live in Heerlen. The collaboration is not a one-off. We will use this approach more often. Recruitment campaigns for 11 important positions will be launched in the coming period. The first four campaigns start today.
Anticipating the Parkstad Act
The collaboration ties in with the upcoming Parkstad Act. This is the regional application of the national Act on Special Measures for Metropolitan Problems (Wbmgp). In September, Heerlen, together with Heerlen-Noord and surrounding municipalities, requested permission from the national government to use this act.
We expect the Parkstad Act to come into force on January 1, 2026, and that this Act will later also apply in Kerkrade and Brunssum. This will enable municipalities to give priority to important professional groups, such as healthcare workers, when allocating housing. By working in this way now, we are gaining experience and strengthening our neighborhoods at the same time.
Alderman Casper Gelderblom Housing) is pleased with the launch of the campaign:
“In Heerlen, we are building strong and healthy communities. This first Parkstadwet campaign fits in perfectly with that. I am proud of the collaboration with Weller and Zuyderland. They are committed to good and accessible Health our city. The approach shows that we are looking beyond the shortage of personnel. We are looking for solutions. The fact that Jordi is now finding both a job and a home proves that this works. In this way, we cherish people who stay and attract new talent. With the Parkstad Act, we will soon be able to tackle this even better and on a larger scale."