Finnish authorities have decided to nearly halve the number of migrant reception centers due to a significant decline in the number of migrants. Eight centers have already been closed this year, and another eight are scheduled to close by the end of February next year.
These changes also affect Ukrainians currently in Finland under temporary protection. According to the Finnish Immigration Service, in June there were 30 centers for adults and 13 for minors operating in the country, but the situation has changed.
In particular, the reception center in Kuopio, operated by Kotokunta, is scheduled to close in November, although apartments for clients of the reception system will remain in the city. Elina Nurmi, director of Migri’s migrant reception department, noted that the number of asylum seekers has decreased, and new arrivals from Ukraine are not increasing.
Some residents of the closed centers are being transferred to municipalities, and the reception centers’ services for asylum seekers will end three months after they receive a residence permit. Residents who do not move to a municipality or private housing will be transferred to available spaces in other facilities.
Clients also have the option of renting private housing on their own, receiving a settlement allowance of 300 euros. However, rental and living expenses are not covered. As of March of this year, approximately 90,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Finland, of whom about 50,000 remain in the country, largely due to difficulties finding employment and language barriers.
