Homeless individuals in Reykjavik face increased anxiety as winter approaches

As winter approaches, homeless individuals in Reykjavik are facing increased anxiety due to freezing temperatures and limited shelter options. Many are being sent back to the streets each morning after spending the night in temporary accommodations.

Ragnar Erling Hermannsson, a spokesperson for the homeless and personally affected by homelessness, reports that while there have been more housing allocations, a significant number of people remain on the streets, struggling with various health issues. The number of homeless individuals has risen recently, and Ragnar highlights that this winter marks the third year in a row where there is only nighttime frost, while services like Samhjálp are not operating as they did in previous winters, closing earlier than before.

Several shelters operate in the city, but Ragnar emphasizes an urgent need for housing for 30 to 40 individuals without permanent residences. He has reached out to municipal officials for information on vacant apartments, which he was told could be around 48.

The shelters typically open at 5 PM and require residents to leave by 10 AM, which particularly burdens the most vulnerable who must face the cold weather each morning. Two years ago, a shelter extended its hours during severe winter weather, a move that Ragnar says worked well, yet he has received no responses as to why this cannot be a more permanent arrangement.

The cyclical nature of homelessness impacts residents’ ability to stabilize their lives. “We can’t build any foundation for our lives or think about anything beyond just being homeless every day,” Ragnar reflects, underlining the urgent need for sustained support and accommodation for the city’s homeless population.