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MIGRANTS are being put before Sweden’s own citizens despite a huge waiting list, after the country brought in controversial new laws.
Families
in the country have been left outraged over the decision which has seen
all available apartments owned by the municipal property company put
aside for migrants.
Politicians in Enköpings, Sweden, this week approved a proposal allowing the step to be taken.
Those
already on the waiting list will be placed behind newly arrived
Syrians, Iraqis and Afghanis as most vacant apartments owned by
Enköpings Housing Rentals (EHB) are earmarked for them.
Social
Democratic Party councillor Helena Proos said: “We are in a tough
position because there are very many people who are looking for housing,
but we have an obligation to provide housing for newly arrived
refugees.”
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In March of this year a law requiring all municipalities accept and provide housing for migrants came into effect.
Ever since Enköping has been searching for accommodation to provide those escaping war and poverty.
Homeowners
were asked to give up their properties to help the Government but the
Enköpings Mail reported there was little interest in the scheme.
Previously,
Enköpings, EHB was only required to offer the municipality up to five
per cent of the apartments that they rent out each year.
Now, the local government will be able to claim all of them.
However, the region’s mayor told the Mail he is hopeful this will not be necessary in practice.
Left
wing politician Helena Proos said there will be regular meetings
between the municipality and the EHB to discuss who will move into
apartments
She
said: “If, for example, EHB is releasing a brand new apartment
building, then it is not fair for the municipality to claim every single
apartment. Something like that could negatively affect integration in
Enköpings.”
Ms Proos said she understands people will be “disappointed” with the fast-tracking system.
Sweden
is experiencing chronic housing shortages as a result of the country’s
generous asylum and migration policies over the last decade.
A
record 4,542 asylum seekers withdrew their applications and left Sweden
in the first eight months of 2016 as a result of long processing times,
strict new rules on family reunion, and payouts to migrants who
voluntarily returned to their country of origin.
Sweden
used to be one of Europe’s most popular destinations for migrants, with
the number of asylum applications doubling between 2014 and 2015 to
more than 160,000.
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