In several so-called 'vulnerable' regions, livability and safety are under pressure (e.g., Rotterdam- Zuid and Heerlen-Noord). Problems regarding education, health, work, housing, habitat, environment and safety seem not only to pile up but even to reinforce each other. People who grow up in vulnerable areas often do not have the same opportunities as people who grow up elsewhere. Poverty, often passed down from generation to generation, plays a major role in this, as it affects health, study opportunities, labour market participation, housing comfort and safety. The COVID-19 outbreak has compounded these multi-layered problems and made inequality even worse. In order to overcome the accumulation of problems, we must significantly improve the living situation to reduce inequality.