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Social Centre and Romani Camp to Stay

The City of Helsinki Board of Youth Issues voted 5-3 on Thursday evening to renew the lease for the association operating the Harbour Social Centre (Sosiaalikeskus Satama) that has provided space for a camp occupied by foreign Romani.

Romanien asuntovaunuleiri Helsingissä.
Image: YLE

Under the terms of the decision, the collective running the centre can continue to occupy the city-owned building until such a time as it is demolished to make way for new construction at some unspecified future date.

The parking lot of the centre is currently occupied by a makeshift camp housing ethnic Romani from Romania.

The Board of Youth Issues noted in its decision that undue pressures have been brought on youth services in the issue of housing for foreign Romani in Helsinki. It proposed that the city administration undertake an examination of alternatives to the camp at the Harbour Social Centre site.

Sources: YLE