37 women’s shelters forced to close after Swedish permit law change

A total of 37 emergency shelters for women fleeing violence have shut down since Sweden introduced stricter permit requirements two years ago, public broadcaster Sveriges Radio reports.

The law, which took effect in April 2024, requires all women’s shelters to obtain approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare (Inspektionen för vård och omsorg, Ivo). Authorities said the change aimed to eliminate unqualified operators and improve standards.

But the policy has also led to closures among volunteer-run shelters. Twenty facilities under the feminist network Roks and 17 under the umbrella organisation Unizon have been forced to shut their doors.

“This has not resulted in more women and children gaining access to high-quality shelter,” said Olga Persson, chair of Unizon, in an interview with the radio programme Ekot. “We’re only seeing the full impact now—it’s been incredibly hard to track.”

Social Services Minister Camilla Waltersson Grönvall (Moderate Party) noted that shelters struggling to meet the new rules can apply for state funding to adapt.

Critics argue the permit process has disproportionately affected smaller, non-profit shelters, reducing overall capacity for victims of domestic violence.