Namsskogan offers free accommodation for nurses in innovative recruitment initiative

The municipality of Namsskogan has decided to offer two mini-houses for free accommodation to nurses and health care nurses, aimed at easing the housing burden for these professionals. No commitments or relocations to the municipality are required to take advantage of this offer.

Municipal director Yngve Holm expressed optimism about the program, which was approved on Thursday and will be reviewed before discussions regarding the 2026 budget. While this initiative may result in a loss of rental income for the municipality, it could save nurses over 100,000 kroner annually. Holm believes the program will be appealing to professionals in the health sector.

Namsskogan, like many other areas, faces challenges in recruiting healthcare personnel, particularly nurses. The municipality’s council unanimously supported the initiative, highlighting the need for creative solutions to ensure future access to essential healthcare workers. Initially, two houses will be used, with potential plans to increase this number to four.

Recently, Røyrvik municipality has also taken steps to attract healthcare workers by implementing significant salary increases for nurses and healthcare assistants. While Namsskogan has been exploring ideas to improve nurse recruitment for a while, the new housing arrangement was not prompted by Røyrvik’s recent changes, according to Holm.

Lill Sverresdatter Larsen, leader of the Norwegian Nurses’ Association, supports innovative proposals to make municipal jobs more attractive to nurses. She remains eager to see how effective this new housing initiative will be. Larsen believes that the nursing workforce prioritizes salary, but also other factors such as working conditions, professional development opportunities, and work-life balance. She emphasizes the pressing need for improved labor conditions in the sector.