Reception centres will be closed and accommodation capacity will be reduced
The Finnish Immigration Service has decided to close 33 reception centres. In addition, the fixed-term agreements with 10 centres will expire. Accommodation capacity will be reduced in several reception centres in which operations will continue.
The closures, expiry of agreements and capacity cuts will reduce the accommodation capacity by 7,232 beds, with units intended for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers accounting for 613 beds.
After these and previously announced closures and cuts in accommodation capacity, the number of beds will total 20,700 in units housing adults and approximately 1,700 in units housing minors.
Reception system adjusted to reflect the number of asylum seekers
Reception centres are set up and closed down on the basis of need. At the beginning of the year, the number of asylum seekers has been moderate and beds in units are becoming vacant as some asylum seekers choose to leave the country voluntarily or they receive decisions.
The occupancy rate of reception centres is currently 82 per cent. Due to the maintenance costs of vacant capacity, it is not advisable to keep beds vacant.
It has been assessed that the units that are to be closed down are no longer needed. The decisions were made on the basis of an assessment of the reception system. The reasons for the closures were different in each unit.
Reception units to be closed down and downsized
Reduction of 6,619 beds in units for adults:
Units to be closed:
- Helsinki/Koskela, City of Helsinki, 240 beds, by 31 May
- Helsinki/Sturenkatu, Finnish Red Cross FRC, 280 beds, by 30 September
- Helsinki/Vuoranta, FRC, 98 beds,by 30 September
- Hyrynsalmi, FRC,150 beds,by 30 June
- Joutsa, FRC,150 beds,by 30 September
- Kangasala, FRC,390 beds,by 31 May
- Keitele/FRC 100 beds,by 30 September
- Kokemäki, FRC,100 beds,by 30 June
- Kouvola/Valkeala, FRC,85 beds,by 30 September
- Malax/Tolvis & Tuvas, FRC,74 beds,by 30 June
- Muhos, FRC,200 beds,by 31 July
- Oulu/Hiukkavaara, FRC,340 beds, by 30 June
- Petäjävesi, FRC,90 beds, by 30 September
- Raseborg/Resort, FRC,300 beds, by 30 September
- Rovaniemi/Muurola, FRC,300 beds, by 30 September
- Ruovesi/Ruhala, FRC,89 beds, by 30 September
- Saarijärvi/Mellikka, FRC,60 beds, by 30 June
- Savonlinna/Kerimäki, Viittakivi Oy,55 beds,by 30 June
- Tervola, FRC,150 beds, by 30 May
- Turku/Turku Youth Hostel, FRC,100 beds, by 30 April
- Vihti, FRC,178 beds, by 30 September
3,529 beds in total.
Capacity reductions:
- Asikkala, KotoumaOy,30 beds,by 31 March
- Harjavalta, FRC,120 beds, by 30 September
- Heinola, Viittakivi Oy,115 beds, by 31 May
- Heinola, Hemcare Heinola Oy,60 beds, by 30 April
- Hyvinkää, Metsätähti Oy,30 beds, by 31 March
- Hämeenlinna/Lammi, FRC,50 beds, by 30 April
- Jyväskylä/Kangasvuori, FRC,50 beds, by 30 April
- Kemi, FRC,100 beds,by 30 June
- Kemijärvi, FRC,100 beds, by 31 August
- Keuruu, FRC100 beds, by 30 April
- Kirkkonummi/Aavaranta, FRC,150 beds, by 30 June
- Korsnäs, FRC,20 beds,by 30 April
- Kotka, City of Kotka,70 beds,by 30 June
- Kotka/Laajakoski, FRC,50 beds,by 31 March
- Kristinestad, FRC,130 beds,by 31 May
- Kuusamo, FRC,100 beds,by 30 June
- Lahti/Hennala, FRC100 beds,by 30 April
- Lieksa, Lieksa Christian Community College,65 beds,by 31 May
- Mänttä-Vilppula, FRC,100 beds,by 30 April
- Pieksämäki, FRC,50 beds,by 30 April
- Jakobstad, Municipality of Vörå,50 beds,by 31 May
- Punkalaidun, FRC,50 beds,by 31 May
- Pyhtää, Kotouma Oy20 beds,by 31 March
- Orimattila, FRC,50 beds,by 30 April
- Oulu/Vallinkorva, FRC,90 beds,by 30 June
- Pori, FRC,50 beds,by 30 April
- Raahe, FRC,50 beds, by 30 June
- Rovaniemi, FRC,100 beds, by 30 June
- Ruukki, FRC,50 beds,by 30 June
- Salo, Medivida Oy,50 beds,by 30 April
- Salo, FRC,50 beds,by 30 April
- Siilinjärvi, Kuopion Setlementti Puijola ry,110 beds,by 31 May
- Tampere/Rautaharkko, Metsätähti Oy,30 beds,by 30 April
- Turku/Pansio, FRC,50 beds,by 30 April
- Vaasa, City of Vaasa,50 beds,by 31 May
- Vörå/Oravainen, Municipality of Vörå,50 beds,by 31 May
2,490 beds in total.
Additionally:
Units maintained by Luona Oy (to be specified in April)600 beds
Reduction of 613 beds in units for minors:
Units to be closed:
- Espoo, A-Clinic Foundation,55 beds,by 30 September
- Haapajärvi, SOS Children’s Village,14 beds,by 30 September
- Helsinki/Ruskeasuo, FRC,40 beds,by 30 April
- Kangasala, Ahokodit Oy,14 beds,by 30 June
- Kempele, Arjen Avain Oy (ODL),30 beds,by 31 July
- Muhos, Nuorten ystävät -palvelut Oy,7 beds,by 30 September
- Nurmijärvi, FRC,14 beds,by 31 May
- Oulu/Myllytulli, Oulu Mother and Child Home,40 beds,by 30 September
- Salo/Kurkela, Kalliola Patron’s Association,18 beds,by 30 September
- Sipoo, Medivida Oy,14 beds,by 30 September
- Suonenjoki, Vanhamäki Foundation,40 beds,by 30 September
286 beds in total.
Units to be closed down due to expiry of agreement:
- Haapavesi Folk High School,15 beds,by 31 August
- The Church Training College in Järvenpää,24 beds,by 31 July
- Kainuu College,18 beds,by 31 July
- Evangelical Folk High School of Kitee,15 beds,by 31 August
- Lieksa Christian Community College,42 beds,by 20 August
- Evangelical Folk High School of Loimaa,50 beds,by 31 August
- The Church Training College in Pieksämäki,26 beds,by 31 July
- Pohjois-Savo College,15 beds,by 31 August
- Porvoo Folk High School,20 beds,by 31 August
- The Church Training College in Ruokolahti,25 beds,by 31 July
250 beds in total.
Capacity reductions:
- Helsinki/Ruskeasuo, FRC,7 beds,by 30 April
- Huittinen, AMF Vastaanottopalvelut Oy,20 beds,by 31 May
- Sipoo, Mannerheim League for Child, Welfare Uusimaa, 10 beds,by 31 May
- Äänekoski, Ankkuri Lastensuojelupalvelut Oy, 40 beds,by 31 May
77 beds in total.
Unit-specific schedules may change.
Further information for the media
On 29 March: Jaana Vuorio, Director General, tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi
From 30 March onwards: Jorma Kuuluvainen, Director of Reception Unit, tel. 0295 430 431, firstname.lastname@migri.fi
Revised on 29 March 2016 at 16.00: The unit for minors in Äänekoski will not be closed down. Instead, the number of beds in the unit will be reduced.
