How Relocation Affects Asylum Seekers’ Ability to Settle In

Mihaela Barsa recently graduated from the two-year dual Social Work degree programme at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. She works as a residential support worker at a reception centre run by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). Her studies were partly integrated into her work, where she meets many families accommodated by the COA while their asylum applications are being processed.

“As a support worker, I help residents with everyday life. That can mean anything from teaching someone how to use public transport to enrolling a child in school, or providing practical assistance and information about life in the Netherlands,” Mihaela explains. Supporting residents' participation in society is also an important part of her work. “Asylum seekers don't just sit around waiting for a decision from the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). They volunteer, learn the language and try to put down roots in a new country.”

Becoming Less Active

It was during this everyday support work that Mihaela noticed something that concerned her. Residents who had finally found their feet were sometimes transferred to another reception centre because of a lack of space.

“There was one resident who had made such remarkable progress. He was doing volunteer work, writing a book and his children were attending school. Unfortunately, he had to move during his asylum procedure. Not long afterwards, he was gone.”

At the new location, the resident became much less active than before. “Despite everything we had built together, he struggled to find his way again.”

The Emotional Impact

This experience inspired Mihaela's graduation research into the impact of forced relocations during the asylum procedure on asylum seekers' participation in society.

“Moving house is one of the most stressful events in a person's life, after losing a loved one or going through a divorce. You have to break your routines and leave your social network behind. It's not just a logistical challenge; it also takes a significant emotional toll. People who lose or leave behind their social networks sometimes withdraw, become more cautious and worry more.”

A Clear Pattern

Through interviews with residents of reception centres in Groningen about relocation and rebuilding their lives, Mihaela identified a pattern: residents who received more intensive support at an earlier stage before moving were more likely to make a successful start elsewhere.

When Mihaela discussed her findings with her academic supervisor, it became clear that they closely aligned with a recently launched initiative by the municipality of Groningen: Meedoen vanaf dag één (Participating from Day One). The initiative places participation at the heart of support from the very first conversation, rather than treating it as something to address later.

“In the past, participation support started a little later. Once someone had settled in, conversations about education, work or volunteering would really get going,” Mihaela explains. “Now, residents start working towards volunteering, education and eventually an internship or job outside the reception centre from day one, through learning pathways in healthcare, hospitality, engineering and construction.”

Mihaela became involved in the project group and presented her findings: what wasn't working, what residents wanted and what improvements COA staff had identified. Together, they reached a conclusion: residents need consistent support, while support workers need a practical tool to make participation from day one a reality.

Two Tools, One Shared Approach

This led to the development of an information booklet for support workers and a participation portfolio.

“The booklet follows a resident's entire journey, from arrival to departure,” Mihaela explains. “It also covers any relocations and clearly outlines who residents speak to at each stage and the purpose of those conversations.”

“The participation portfolio brings everything together. We create a profile covering residents' wishes, strengths, development goals and volunteer work, including a kind of CV. The portfolio is a living document that moves with the resident and can also be accessed by staff at other reception centres.”

The idea is simple but effective. Everyone follows the same steps and has access to the same information. This means that the experience and progress residents have built up are no longer lost when they move.

“I Do Belong Here”

Mihaela knows from personal experience how important it is to build a strong foundation in a new country. She moved to the Netherlands from Romania, not as a refugee, but for love.

“I had no friends, didn't speak the language and had no social standing. In my home country, I had a good position, but here I was suddenly a nobody.”

The first few years were lonely. “Everyone knew my husband, but nobody knew me.”

It wasn't until a few years later, when she had learned the language and started volunteering, that things began to change. One day, as she walked through the village, people greeted her every few metres.

“That's when I thought: I do belong here after all. My life starts now, right here.”

Putting Participation First

And what about residents who have found their feet? They are now less likely to have to pack up and move again when space becomes limited.

“Of course, sometimes a move is unavoidable, for example when a reception centre is closing. But fortunately, it happens less often at our locations in Groningen,” Mihaela says. “Where possible, we now first consider whether an actively participating resident can stay where they are.”

For Mihaela, one thing remains the top priority: participation itself.

“Participation gives residents a way to build a new life and regain control over their own future,” she says.

For Mihaela, this is more than just a theory. She knows, better than most of her colleagues, what it feels like when people finally start greeting you in a place that once felt unfamiliar.