The undocumented migrants

June 22nd 2009    

The homeless people are everywhere. They live among all of us, who are citizens in the Scandinavian countries, even tough Denmark – and Sweden and Norway – have large and well-functioning welfare systems.

In the latest issue of ‘Hjemløs’ – the magazine published by the Danish NGO ‘Missionen blandt Hjemløse’ – the discussion concerning the many illegal homeless people in Denmark today are taking up the entire issue.

The articles state that there are more than 5000 undocumented migrants in Denmark, and that many of these people – including children – are living under terrible conditions. The reasons why all these homeless foreigners are living in the streets are many, but the main reason is that almost none of them have access to important health and social services.

This also proves that initiatives like Welcome HomeLess are necessary in order to speak the cases of the undocumented migrants all over Europe.

The NGOs make things happen

In Norway and Sweden the problems with the undocumented migrants have been placed into focus, but the discussion remains untouched in Denmark. projekt UDENFOR and Missionen blandt Hjemløse, SAND, Domkirken, Kirkens Korshær and Kofoeds Kælder have all established an independent association called ‘NatNød’.

‘NatNød’ is a shelter based on volunteers, who keep and eye on the shelter during the night. In this shelter the homeless foreigners can sleep during the winter in Copenhagen. Since the shelter is an independent association, which does not get any support from the public sector, it is possible to go beyond the many rules and legislation, which forbid the shelters that get public support to take the undocumented migrants in for the night.  We definitely need more of these offers for the homeless foreigners in Denmark.  

What’s next?

One of the ways to make sure that the undocumented migrants are being helped, are by making more concrete common EU policies within the field of poverty and social exclusion. However, Denmark is very afraid of becoming ‘one large shelter’ that the road to a common legislation is long. 
But the many NGOs are doing their best to improve the conditions for the homeless foreigners in Denmark.

Download the June issue of ‘Hjemløs’ here for more information (only in Danish)