In a short time, the population in Fauske will increase by almost 5 per cent. This week the politicians were told that the UDI is establishing two asylum reception centers in the municipality. One in Fauske and one in Sulitjelma. In total, UDI has awarded 28 new agreements for the operation of asylum reception centers across the country, with a total of 5,305 places. The following places have received agreements on the operation of asylum reception centers: UDI has awarded 28 new agreements on the operation of asylum reception centers across the country, with a total of 5,305 places. All agreements start at the end of August, with a duration of three years. UDI also has the option to extend the agreement by up to two years, which will give a duration for the operating agreement of a total of five years. Region Indre Østland: * Sel municipality – 240 places – Mysusæter – Ostra Consult AS * Moss municipality – 220 places – Jeløya – The Salvation Army * Lier municipality – 162 places – Renskaug Lier – Corvina Care AS * Hurdal municipality – 200 places – Landsbyen Hurdal – Corvina Care AS * Indre Østfold municipality – 160 places – Hobøl – Ostra Consult AS * Våler municipality in Østfold – 17 4 places – Kasper – Link AS * Moss municipality – 200 places – Rygge – Roomtorent Region Mid-Norway: * Snåsa municipality – 180 places – Snåsa – Hero Norge AS * Heim municipality – 150 places – Heim – Sana Mottaksdrift AS * Hareid municipality – 191 places – Hareid municipality Region North: * Fauske municipality – 185 places – Sulitjelma – Corvina Care AS * Tjeldsund municipality – 150 places – Kvitnes – Hero Norge AS * Saltdal municipality – 250 places – Vensmoen – Reception Nor AS * Fauske municipality – 250 places – Fauske – Reception Nor AS * Bodø municipality – 258 places – Tverlandet – Nord-Norsk Mottaksdrift AS * Målselv municipality – 150 places – Målselv – Mottak Nord AS * Vadsø municipality – 200 places – Vadsø – Oscarsgaten 29 AS Region South: * Holmestrand municipality – 230 places – Hof – Ostra Consult AS * Kvinesdal municipality – 150 places – Kvinesdal – Link AS * Horten municipality – 250 places – Department Horten – Apartments AS * Vegårshei municipality – 150 places – Vegårshei – Sana Mottaksdrift AS * Skien municipality – 150 places – Skien – Sana Mottaksdrift AS * Holmestrand municipality – 150 places – Department Holmestrand – Apartments AS * Tønsberg municipality – 15 0 places – Department Færder – Apartments AS * Tønsberg municipality – 175 places – Tønsberg – Sana Mottaksdrift AS * Skien municipality – 280 places – JES Eiendom AS Region West: * Bømlo municipality – 150 places – Bømlo – Sana Mottaksdrift AS A total of 435 new people will live and live in the municipality in Indre Salten. The municipal board initially agreed to settle 40 refugees in the municipality. Now there are 10 times as many. It offers opportunities, but also challenges and concerns for Mayor Marlen Rendall Berg (Sp). – We obviously want to contribute, but we are worried about whether we will be able to provide good services to everyone who comes, she says to news. – It will be a tremendous effort if we are to meet the refugees in a good way. Economic crisis Too much has changed since Fauske last hosted refugees in 2015. The municipality has had to cut back heavily on services to deal with a miserable economy. In 2021, the municipality had NOK 1.5 billion in debt. Among other things, it was considered to cut the after-school offer in order to save money. The municipality is now on the so-called Robek list. In 2022, they also took the drastic step of moving out of their own town hall to save money on electricity and maintenance. – We have cut quite a lot in the service offer since we last accepted many Syrian refugees in 2015. The municipality is in a completely different situation now, says the mayor. But with the refugees also comes money. All municipalities that have an asylum reception center receive a host municipality subsidy. The basic rate that the municipalities receive is NOK 756,551 per year. In addition, the municipalities receive NOK 11,611 per place per year at ordinary reception places. Uncertain whether the subsidies are enough But according to Rendall Berg, the experience in Fauske is that the subsidies do not cover the real costs. – In terms of experience, we see that there have been greater expenses than what we have received in compensation. – We are unsure how this will burden the municipal economy. An increase in the population of 5 per cent is significant and will challenge our aid apparatus. – In addition, it is a challenge to acquire the necessary expertise, she says. Mayoral candidate Nils-Christian Steinbakk (Ap) is also excited about how this will go. – We are currently unable to provide our residents with statutory services. I don’t know how we are going to solve this, he says to Avisa Nordland, which mentioned the matter first. He points out that the municipal council agreed to resettle 40 refugees in 2023. Municipal director Ellen Beate Lundberg thought that was too many in view of the municipality’s finances. She thought 10 could hold. Now there will be 435. The residents news met on the street in Fauske were largely positive that the municipality should accept refugees: The companies Corvina Care AS and Mottaksdrift Nor will run the two reception centers in Fauske. This means new jobs for the municipality. The establishment of the reception in the center will, according to the drivers, create up to 13 positions. – We are satisfied to have reached the competition, and we will follow the requirements in the tender. Then we assume that the municipality knows its obligations, says general manager of Mottaksdrift Nor, Tor Gunnar Gusjås to news. – Unrest and a bit of skepticism The biggest challenge will be at the reception in Sulitjelma, believes mayor Rendall Berg. The village with approximately 550 inhabitants will now have 185 more. – The biggest challenge will be the logistics between the center in Fauske and Sulitjelma. We last saw it when there was a reception there in 2015, that the refugees had major challenges in getting to the services in Fauske, such as a doctor, dentist and police. They had to spend a whole day getting to the center. – How do you think the residents there think about receiving asylum again? – There is probably an uneasiness and a bit of skepticism. But they have experience in welcoming refugees, and we naturally hope that society mobilizes to welcome the refugees in a good way. But both the mayor and the candidate for mayor emphasize that Fauske would like to help. – I am concerned that we should contribute to doing our part for people in a difficult situation, says Steinbakk. – We need more people. These can be a resource, if we only manage to receive them in a good way. Our concern is whether we are able to give them what they need, says Rendall Berg. To be distributed throughout the country UDI tells news that next week they will have a start-up meeting with Fauske municipality, to ensure a good dialogue, and for the municipality to get all the information they need. – Municipalities throughout the country do a formidable job when it comes to settling refugees – and when it comes to taking care of residents in asylum reception centers. The receptions that come will have qualified personnel who follow up the residents. We will closely monitor the training of the employees, guidance and supervision at the reception, says Regional Director of Reception and Return UDI, Veronica Mikkelborg. She says that in 2023 there will be a lot of people seeking protection in Norway. The war in Ukraine is of course the biggest reason for that. So far this year, an average of 76 Ukrainian refugees per day have arrived in Norway. In total, UDI is now planning for 39,700 applications in 2023 and 25,000 applications in 2024. Mikkelborg says it is politically determined that the receptions are to be distributed across the country. – It has been politically decided that the asylum reception centers in Norway are to be distributed throughout the country. We advertise the operation of receptions through public tenders, and we receive offers from private companies, non-profit organizations and municipalities that want to run receptions for UDI. She says it takes a lot for a municipality to be able to say no to a reception. – UDI can in special cases exempt municipalities from establishing a reception. This must normally be done by exempting individual municipalities already during the announcement of the competition. However, there is a high threshold for making such exceptions. Many such exceptions will make it very difficult to establish enough reception places, and especially in such demanding situations as we are now experiencing related to the war in Ukraine. Read the full response from UDI here: UDI is responsible for ensuring that all asylum seekers who come to Norway are offered a place to live, while they wait for us to process their applications. In 2022, and still in 2023, there will be many people seeking protection in Norway. Municipalities throughout the country do a formidable job when it comes to settling refugees – and when it comes to looking after residents in asylum reception centres. The receptions that come will have qualified personnel who follow up the residents. We will closely monitor the training of the employees, guidance and supervision at the reception. Fauske municipality was informed by the suppliers, Mottaksdrift Nor AS on 25 April and Corvita Care AS on 9 May, that they should apply to set up a reception. In addition, the UDI informed 22 May, the offer deadline, that an offer had been received to operate a reception in Fauske municipality. And, as they have said, they were also informed on 13.07 when the award was made. During the next week, we will have a start-up meeting with Fauske municipality, and to ensure a good dialogue, and for the municipalities to get all the information they need. All municipalities that have an asylum reception center or care center for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers receive a subsidy, which is called a host municipality subsidy. The host municipality subsidy must cover the municipality’s average expenditure on health, child welfare, interpreters and administration in connection with the operation of an asylum reception center in the municipality. The rates are determined annually in connection with the national budget by the politicians. The basic rate that the municipalities receive is 756,551 per year. In addition, the municipalities receive NOK 11,611 per place per year at ordinary reception places. The municipality also receives resident allowance for all residents with a residence permit. In addition to other subsidies, for example for kindergarten time and the after-school scheme. (You can read more here, where the rates are stated.) It has been politically determined that the asylum reception centers in Norway are to be distributed throughout the country. We advertise the operation of receptions through public tenders, and we receive offers from private companies, non-profit organizations and municipalities that want to run receptions for UDI. It is the providers’ access to building stock suitable for reception purposes and competent staffing which to a large extent determines where we receive offers for reception operations. We have experience that buildings suitable for reception operations are a rare commodity, and this is an important reason why we normally approach all regions when we advertise reception acquisitions. In special cases, UDI can exempt municipalities from establishing a reception. This must normally be done by exempting individual municipalities already during the announcement of the competition. However, there is a high threshold for making such exceptions. Many such exceptions will make it very difficult to establish enough reception places, and especially in such demanding situations as we are now experiencing related to the war in Ukraine. Those who want to come to the reception centers in Fauske municipality are some of the many who apply for protection in Norway. It is too early to say who will be staying at the reception, but those seeking protection are pensioners, single adults and families with children. It is important to emphasize that after the award, there is a waiting period during which you can appeal the awards. When the waiting period ends, at midnight on 24 July, the agreements are sent for signature. The contracts are not entered into before signing. All agreements entered into after signing start at the end of August, with a duration of three years. UDI also has the option to extend the agreement by up to two years, which will give a duration for the operating agreement of a total of five years. The parties may terminate the agreement, without reason, with four months’ written notice to the other party.
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Fauske municipality will accept 435 Ukrainian refugees in a few weeks – news Nordland
