Woonbron housing association took action in Schiemond, a tough inner-city estate on the edge of Rotterdam’s red-light district, after it scored just four out of ten on the city’s safety index. Dubbed a ‘no go area’, Schiemond was plagued by crime, violence, drug dealers and anti-social behaviour. About 4,000 people of 70 different nationalities lived there, many on the edge of poverty.

 A partnership consulted residents and acted on their concerns. A new ‘Home on the streets’ team is based on the estate, headed by manager Iwan Goede. It got straight on with a clean-up and better security.

Community issues were tackled too: support workers help parents and children, and a new deal with residents ensures everyone agrees to decent standards of behaviour. Some 15 families who caused repeated trouble were given a last chance to keep to the rules or move out.

Now residents are involved in every aspect of management. They own and manage the playground and playgroup and organise trips for the children. A tenants’ council mediates in anti-social behaviour disputes, and groups representing different areas meet regularly with Iwan. A group of 15 residents set up an estate patrol, which works in shifts to 2am every night.

All the work has paid off, Iwan says. “Thanks to this work, Schiemond has moved up to 6.5 on the safety index, a clear indicator that things are getting better. Tenant turnover, another litmus test, halved to 5%,” he adds.

Now Iwan is going ahead with ambitious plans to sell the roof space on riverside blocks to developers who will build penthouse suites. The money raised will go towards an £18 million facelift for the estate. He also wants to provide a one-stop office for the police, housing staff, social services and other professionals. “You have to be here to the do the job properly,” he argues. “All the professionals earning their living from this community should be based on the estate.”