Helsinki to set up two new refugee reception centres

Disused hotels to be leased by city

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Helsinki has decided to open two new centres for the temporary housing of asylum seekers.
      The city’s Social Affairs Committee voted 7-3 on Thursday that the Marttahotelli hotel in the Punavuori neighbourhood and the Hotel Fenno in the Kallio district will be converted to serve the needs of asylum seekers.
      Each of the new facilities will have a capacity to house 200 asylum seekers.
      A proposal by a member of the True Finns Party, to reject the establishment of the centres, was voted down. Also voting against the centre were two representatives of the National Coalition Party.
      Voting in favour of the facility were the Greens, the Social Democrats, the Left Alliance, and the Swedish People’s Party.
     
“I see this as a human rights question. There is a crying need for reception centres”, said the board’s chairwoman Sirkku Ingervo (Green).
      The meeting proceeded in a constrictive spirit, although debate was heated at times. No alternative locations were put forward at Thursday’s meeting.
     
There has been strong opposition to a new refugee reception centre specifically among residents of Punavuori.
      The City of Helsinki notes that the number of asylum seekers needing shelter grew last year, and has remained high this year as well. In addition, the state has previously asked Helsinki to arrange more space for the would-be refugees.
      Helsinki currently has two refugee reception centres, one in Metsälä and one in Kyläsaari, which have a combined capacity for 300 asylum seekers.
      Officials are considering the future of the Kyläsaari centre, which is in poor physical condition.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Two Helsinki hotels to be converted into refugee reception centres (23.1.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat