Soeten’s situation stems from financial impossibility rather than any criminal intent or wrongdoing. Credit: Arne Soeten Facebook
Arne Soeten, founder of the Costa Blanca homeless charity Project 4 All, is facing the prospect of a custodial sentence that supporters say could dismantle one of the region’s most vital support networks for vulnerable people. After years devoted to helping those living on the margins of society, Soeten now risks imprisonment because he is unable to pay a confiscation order totalling €387,000 in the Netherlands.
Project 4 All has become a lifeline for homeless and marginalised individuals across the Costa Blanca, providing food, shelter, warmth and guidance on a daily basis. Run largely by volunteers and sustained by donations, the charity fills a critical gap where public services often fall short, particularly in areas affected by economic inequality and social exclusion.
A lifeline under threat
Supporters argue that the threat of imprisonment is deeply unjust and disproportionate. They insist that Soeten’s situation stems from financial impossibility rather than any criminal intent or wrongdoing, and warn that a prison sentence would have consequences far beyond the individual concerned. If he is incarcerated, the charity he founded and continues to drive could struggle to survive.
Non-profit organisations like Project 4 All play an essential role on the Costa Blanca, where rising living costs and limited social safety nets leave many people at risk of homelessness. Volunteers and beneficiaries alike say that removing Soeten from the work would weaken a system that already operates under constant pressure.
From personal struggle to public service
Soeten has been open about his past. More than 11 years ago, after a life marked by drugs, alcohol and crime, he turned away from addiction and committed himself to sobriety, recovery and service to others. From that personal transformation, Project 4 All was born.
Friends and supporters describe him as someone who uses his own experience to connect with people who feel forgotten or lost. Many of those helped by the charity say that, beyond food or shelter, it is dignity and hope that Project 4 All restores.
Community voices speak out
Local residents have rallied strongly in his defence. A supporter from Ondara said she had worked with Soeten through her own aid association and had seen first-hand how he supports homeless and deeply vulnerable people, guiding them towards stability and safety. “They should let him continue his work helping so many people,” said Candida.
Another supporter, called Beier, from Benissa, who has volunteered with Project 4 All for several years, described Soeten as “an angel on the streets of the Costa Blanca”. She praised his journey from hardship to generosity, saying his example proves that people can change their lives and give back to society in meaningful ways.
A personal message amid uncertainty
In a recent personal statement, Soeten confirmed that Dutch authorities have decided to detain him in an effort to enforce the confiscation order, more than 20 years after the original events. He described the situation as painful and uncertain, but made it clear that he refuses to return to his former way of life.
“Project 4 All is not just a charity; it is a lifeline,” he said, stressing that hunger, cold and homelessness do not pause while legal battles continue. He vowed to face whatever lies ahead with integrity and a clear conscience, insisting that his commitment to recovery and service remains unbroken.
Calls for alternatives to prison
Supporters are now urging the court to adopt a more reasonable and compassionate approach. They argue that alternatives such as restructuring the debt into manageable payments, or imposing community-based measures, would allow justice to be served without destroying a charity that helps countless people.
Campaigners say imprisonment would serve no public interest and would instead punish the very people who rely on Project 4 All for daily survival. They believe the case raises broader questions about proportionality, rehabilitation and the value of social contribution.
A petition for compassion
A petition calling on the authorities to prevent Soeten’s incarceration is gaining momentum, with signatories emphasising the real-world impact of his work. Many stress that true justice should recognise transformation, responsibility and the positive role an individual plays within the community.
As the case unfolds, supporters continue to stand behind Arne Soeten and Project 4 All, arguing that compassion and common sense must prevail. For them, protecting one man’s freedom also means safeguarding the dignity, hope and survival of the many lives he continues to touch every day.