Malin Kummu is disappointed that the social service does not arrange accommodation for her brother, even though he is an addict.
– He seems to have ended up in a catch 22 between the authorities. He receives neither accommodation, sickness benefit nor unemployment compensation. And then only us relatives remain. I think that social services should be able to do more, says the sister.
Had own accommodation for 13 years
For 13 years, Jonny had his own apartment, but just a few years ago he was evicted.
– He had such a nice time at home and kept busy in his garden and could have his dog there. But then there was a fight with a mentally ill neighbor and even though he behaved most of the time, he was not allowed to stay.
Gave Jonny a seat on the sofa
When Jonny lost his apartment, he lived temporarily with friends and acquaintances as well as in tents and in stairwells. But the winter is long and cold in Norrbotten, so Malin quickly decided to make a place for her homeless brother on the sofa in the living room.
– It is far from an ultimate solution that he lives here. Not for any of us. But Jonny has an injury to his back, so I wanted him to at least get a good night’s sleep, says Malin Kummu.
That’s what it’s like to live with Jonny’s addiction
Jonny has a suitcase and hygiene items under the bed in Malin’s bedroom. His other belongings are packed away with different people as there is no room for them.
How does sharing a second with an addict affect you?
– Yes, so what should I do? It’s my brother but sometimes it just doesn’t work out and he understands and takes that into account. That’s when he stays away, says the sister.
Directs criticism at social services
Your brother has been offered accommodation a few times since he got rid of the flat. What has not worked?
– They have not been adapted to his problems. It has been accommodation far outside the city with poor bus connections and he almost never has money or a car, says Malin and continues:
– He needs to be close to me and our mother. He can’t handle that isolation.
In the video above, Malin shows how Jonny’s difficult situation affects her – and she criticizes the social services. In the video below, Marie Öhman at the social service responds to the criticism.
Javascript must be enabled to play video
