Refugees being housed with Danish families

Furesø Municipality blazing trails for immigrants

Instead of grouping all of the refugees together in an asylum centre, Furesø Municipality just north of Copenhagen has begun housing some of them with Danish families.

The municipality believes that the refugees will benefit from experiencing daily life in Denmark and help strengthen their bonds with the Danes.

"It provides a network that can support the children having an after-school job and when the families need practical assistance,” Ole Bondo Christensen, the mayor of Furesø Municipality, told Kristeligt Dagblad newspaper.

READ MORE: Half of voters want to tighten non-Western immigration

Others follow suit
Furesø expects to house 73 refugees with Danish families. Five are already living with Danes and arrangements for seven others have also been made.

Favrskov Municipality in east Jutland and Lejre Municipality in Zealand are considering a similar model.

The social and integration minister, Manu Sareen, supports the initiative and revealed that a new housing portal will be established that will better bring the refugees and Danes together.

”The best integration occurs when the refugees go home to the Danes. That way they receive a network and the opportunity to learn the hidden social codes that exist,” Sareen said.

This year, Danish municipalities need to find housing for 12,000 refugees who have been granted residence in Denmark.





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