In March 2022, Olha Hudarieva (41) fled her home country with three children aged 7, 10 and 16. The 71-year-old mother was also on the run.
They fled from the Russian-occupied town of Melitopol, located in the south of Ukraine.
– It was no longer safe to be there. There were Russians everywhere and many of the inhabitants were very scared. The city was also subjected to several attacks, says Olha Hudarieva.
They first fled to Zaporizhska, before going on to Poland and Warsaw. Then the trip went to Oslo and to a reception in Tromsø.
THRIVES: The family of five thrives in Bodø. – It is safe and good here, says Olha Hudarieva Photo: Roy-Arne Salater/ TV 2
The mother of three is divorced and she and her family now live in safe surroundings in a terraced apartment that Bodø municipality has provided.
Major housing shortage
Now they are learning Norwegian. The children go to school, and Olha Hudarieva works a bit as a hairdresser.
She is one of many who are now quickly being integrated into Norwegian society.
During 2022, there were over 37,000 applications from Ukrainian asylum seekers to Norway. In 2023, the Directorate for Integration and Diversity (IMDi) has asked Norwegian municipalities to accept an additional 35,000 refugees. On Friday, it became clear that 234 Norwegian municipalities have agreed to accept a total of 22,390 Ukrainian refugees this year.
Settlement and integration of refugees is a municipal task, but the number of refugees coming to Norway means that it is now difficult to provide enough housing for everyone.
One of the municipalities that notices this well is Bodø.
ON VISIT: Minister for Employment and Inclusion Marte Mjøs Persen is impressed by how quickly families have adapted to Norwegian conditions. Photo: Roy-Arne Salater / TV 2
– I know that it is not just Bodø that has problems with providing housing for refugees now. I also talk to other municipalities, and the problems are pretty much the same everywhere. There is such a large influx of refugees that it is difficult to get hold of enough, says Ellinor Myhre, business manager in Bodø municipality.
In a normal year, Bodø municipality houses around 70 refugees. Last year there were suddenly 350. This year there have been requests for 280 new ones, so far.
PRICES ARE PRESSURED: – We don’t have enough homes for everyone and have to go to the private market. Then it quickly becomes more expensive, says Ellinor Myhre, business manager in Bodø municipality. Photo: Roy-Arne Salater, TV 2
Bodø municipality is positive about contributing and rents everything from dormitories to detached houses.
Rents are increasing
They have to go out on the open market to find accommodation for those who come.
This is helping to push prices in the rental market upwards.
– The municipality has almost as many homes as are needed to settle all the refugees. We have become dependent on the private market, says Myhre.
Municipalities that settle refugees receive subsidies from the state. But it is the refugees themselves who have to pay a large part of the rent through the support they receive from the state.
Myhre shows us a newly renovated apartment in the center of Bodø of 70 square metres. There are two bedrooms, living room, bathroom and kitchen. As early as next week, new refugees will arrive here.
The apartment pays the municipality 14,000 per month.
– Those who will live here pay 10,600 a month. We pay the rest, but we get the amount covered by the state, says Myhre.
THOROUGHLY FURNISHED: New refugees will come to this apartment as early as next week. Only then will beds and other equipment be installed. Photo: Roy-Arne Salater / TV 2
IMDi has asked all municipalities in Norway to report their capacities when it comes to the housing situation in this country.
The response deadline was set for 31 January this year.
– What feedback have you received from the municipalities?
– Not all municipalities have responded to the request, partly because a good number of municipalities have not considered this in their municipal council meetings, says Libe Rieber-Mohn, director of IMDi.
– On a general basis, we observe a positive willingness to settle many refugees again this year, but at the same time housing and sufficient capacity in the municipalities’ service offer is a challenge in some municipalities, says Rieber-Mohn.
– What happens to refugees who do not get housing?
– Refugees who live in a reception center and who cannot be settled in a municipality due to a housing shortage, may have to remain in a reception center until the municipalities have access to suitable housing, says Rieber-Mohn.
Fear speculators
The municipalities are now working hard to provide enough housing.
– The municipality has made a fabulous effort and everyone contributes. They have contributed at a rapid pace. It is important that the refugees are able to get started with their lives. It is important to get the children to school and kindergartens, says Labor and Inclusion Minister Marte Mjøs Persen (Ap).
HOMES NEEDED: Bodø municipality has asked landlords to report available capacity. Photo: Roy-Arne Salater / TV 2
She acknowledges that if the goals of housing as many refugees as possible are to be achieved, private landlords must contribute.
– We are completely dependent on that if we are to cope with the housing situation we are in, says Persen.
– Do you fear that there are also private individuals who will take advantage of the housing shortage?
– It would be unfortunate if anyone speculated about the distress from which all the refugees are now escaping. It is sad if it happens, but there are good systems in the municipalities that catch this, says the minister.
Bodø municipality has experienced that prices on the rental market have skyrocketed and is monitoring whether anyone is taking advantage of the situation.
Miss Ukraine
– Yes, there are probably some who are profiting from the war and we see that some are pricing themselves well above what is the market price. If we find out, we just say no thanks, says Myhre.
The Ukrainian family in Bodø is very grateful that it has been given a house, a school and opportunities to learn Norwegian.
– There are many kind people here, and we are offered to participate in free activities, says Hudarieva.
– Do you miss your city and Ukraine?
– Yes I do. I follow the news about the war at home in Ukraine every single day, says the mother of three.
