Ex-Civil Servant Let Family Live Rent-Free in Homes Meant for the Homeless for a Decade

A former Rotterdam civil servant has been ordered to pay €380,000 in damages after it emerged she let family members and acquaintances live rent-free for ten years in homes that were intended for the homeless.

The woman served as coordinator of a municipal project called (Z)onderdak, which provides temporary housing to homeless people. Under the program, the city rents homes from housing corporations and covers monthly rent, utilities, and other costs. Tenants are required to pay a personal contribution - but in this case, none of that happened.

An integrity report in 2024 flagged the fraud. The city sued for damages covering not only the missed contributions but also all rent and utility costs paid for the illegal occupants.

The former employee argued she was simply trying to help people amid Rotterdam's housing crisis and had not intended to harm the city. The court disagreed. She had kept a secret shadow administration that prevented colleagues from seeing who was actually living in the properties.

Beyond the €380,000 compensation, she was ordered to pay an additional €20,000 in legal costs. The case highlights the lengths some public servants have gone to exploit systems designed to help the most vulnerable.