‘Homeless’ students occupy empty school

While students protest a lack of affordable housing in Copenhagen, a majority in the City Council want to set aside 200 million kroner in next year’s budget to address the problem

Students attempted to occupy an abandoned school yesterday to highlight the lack of student accommodation available in the capital.

According to Politiken newspaper, the student group Hjemløse Studerende (Homeless Students), broke into Havremarken school in Nørrebro at around 6pm and attempted to turn it into a hall of residence.

But the illegal entry into the school was short-lived and the police arrested and released the protestors the same evening.

Lack of housing
In a press release the group said that they can no longer stand to see their friends give up on their future ambitions because of a lack of housing.

With record student numbers combined with Copenhagen’s rapidly expanding population, the pressure on cheap housing is increasing every year.

There are only around 65,000 designated cheap homes set aside for Denmark’s 250,000 students and in July the waiting list for student accommodation Copenhagen had some 9,000 names.

READ MORE: Students told to commute to studies

There is available housing outside the city, however, and some politicians have argued that students should be more willing to commute.

“Students may have to commute just like those in the labour market,” Socialdemokraterne's (S) housing spokesperson, Jan Johansen, told DR Nyheder, dismissing arguments that students perform better when they live near their studies. “Some people will have to commute in order to take their education because not everyone can live near their place of study. It is simply not possible.”

City Council pledges funding for housing
The City Council is attempting to address the issue, and a majority in the council are pushing to set aside 200 million kroner in next year’s budget to cover ten percent of the cost of building 1,065 new cheap homes for students and low-wage earners.

“In London and Paris, it’s almost impossible for ordinary wage earners to live in the city,” Mayor Frank Jensen (S) told Politiken newspaper. “That should not be the case for Copenhagen.”

Between 2011 and 2013, the City Council invested around 220 million in social housing. Jensen wants to build 9,000 new cheap homes by 2025.

TOP STORIES

  • TechBBQ 2025: Big Moves and Bigger Ambitions

    TechBBQ 2025: Big Moves and Bigger Ambitions

    Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej, the Head of PR & Communications at TechBBQ, shares with the readers of The Copenhagen Post some insights on one of the most beloved events for the international community in Denmark, including the major news of moving to the Bella Center in 2025.

  • Egyptian President Al-Sisi’s controversial visit to Denmark

    Egyptian President Al-Sisi’s controversial visit to Denmark

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi arrived in Denmark on Friday for a historic state visit that attracted strong criticism, as well as the attention of the media. Heavy security protocols are being enforced in the center of Copenhagen.

  • Vacant retail spaces in Copenhagen at a record high

    Vacant retail spaces in Copenhagen at a record high

    Although Danes have a lot of money at their disposal, caution is still high when it comes to shopping. This is noticeable to landlords of stores in the Capital Region, where there have not been so many vacant square meters for many years.

  • “International workers are of the utmost importance for the Danish industries”

    “International workers are of the utmost importance for the Danish industries”

    A few day ago, on the 15th floor of the Mærsk Tower in Nørrebro, hundreds of students, expats, and industry-representatives, had gathered for Copenhagen Capacity’s life-science career event. The goal of the event was to link expats and international students with Danish life science companies, for the benefit of both parties. “International workforce has become vital for the Danish industries,” said the organizers.

  • “Internationals are crucial and create value in Denmark,” says Minister of Economy

    “Internationals are crucial and create value in Denmark,” says Minister of Economy

    In a interview with Danish newspaper Berlingske, Minister of Economy Stephanie Lose announced that the government plans to introduce a new scheme to make it easier and cheaper for companies to hire international workers.

  • Which A-kasser have the highest unemployment rates?

    Which A-kasser have the highest unemployment rates?

    An analysis conducted by find-a-kasse-priser.dk and WebHub reports which A-kasse have the highest and lowest unemployment rates. The wide differences may have various causes: “They can be explained partly by the general unemployment among the types of members represented by each A-kasse, but also by each A-kasse’s ability to help their members find work.”

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • “International workers are of the utmost importance for the Danish industries”

    “International workers are of the utmost importance for the Danish industries”

    A few day ago, on the 15th floor of the Mærsk Tower in Nørrebro, hundreds of students, expats, and industry-representatives, had gathered for Copenhagen Capacity’s life-science career event. The goal of the event was to link expats and international students with Danish life science companies, for the benefit of both parties. “International workforce has become vital for the Danish industries,” said the organizers.

  • TechBBQ 2025: Big Moves and Bigger Ambitions

    TechBBQ 2025: Big Moves and Bigger Ambitions

    Keyvan Thomsen Bamdej, the Head of PR & Communications at TechBBQ, shares with the readers of The Copenhagen Post some insights on one of the most beloved events for the international community in Denmark, including the major news of moving to the Bella Center in 2025.

  • Which A-kasser have the highest unemployment rates?

    Which A-kasser have the highest unemployment rates?

    An analysis conducted by find-a-kasse-priser.dk and WebHub reports which A-kasse have the highest and lowest unemployment rates. The wide differences may have various causes: “They can be explained partly by the general unemployment among the types of members represented by each A-kasse, but also by each A-kasse’s ability to help their members find work.”

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs