Migri to close down 2 homes for minor asylum seekers

The Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) will close down the Lahti and Savonlinna group homes, which have been housing unaccompanied minors who are seeking asylum or temporary protection, said Migri in a press release on Wednesday.

The Migri is reducing the accommodation capacity of units for minors considering the present demand.

Adjustments to capacity will help make reception activities as cost-effective as possible.

This time, reducing accommodation capacity means that the contracts of Kotokunta Oy for the group home in Lahti and of JST Solum Oy for the group home in Savonlinna will stop operating the group houses by December 31, 2024.

“The group homes will inform their clients of any changes well in advance, and an assessment of the clients’ situations will be made. When transferring clients, we will take into account children’s schools, for example, to the extent it is possible,” said Elina Nurmi, Director of Reception Services Department.

The Migri is continuously monitoring the need of accommodation capacity and the cost-effectiveness of the reception system.

The number of new applicants for international protection and the number of people granted temporary protection has reduced during the past year.

Another reason why the need for accommodation capacity provided by reception centres has dropped is that many beneficiaries of temporary protection have applied for a municipality of residence and have moved from reception centres to municipalities.

Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection can apply for a municipality of residence after they have resided in Finland continuously for one year.

“The need for accommodation capacity will very likely drop during the autumn, which will lead to either further units being closed down or at least to changes in accommodation capacity in reception centres and units for minors. Decisions on other changes have not yet been made. We will inform of the possible closings once there are decisions in place,” said Nurmi.

At present, Finland has altogether 72 reception centres, their secondary branches and service points for clients in private accommodation, as well as 20 reception units for minors.

The number of people registered in the reception system is currently approximately 26,000, and 47 per cent of the clients live in private accommodation.

The majority of the reception system clients are Ukrainians who receive temporary protection.