The Dutch city of Arnhem is going to cancel the debts of some of the poorest families in the Netherlands in an attempt to break a health-crushing downward spiral and give people a fresh start.
Earlier this month, municipal officials began knocking on doors in the Immerloo II district, one of the poorest neighbourhoods in the Netherlands, offering to pay off problem debts.
At first, people were naturally suspicious, according to Mark Lauriks, the councillor in charge of social security at Arnhem, who is leading the scheme. Immerloo II residents were used to debt collectors and wary of the government, he said. But that soon changed when the details – total debt forgiveness with no strings attached – emerged in the media. “With the…
