Faroese government proposes new housing law for Ukrainian refugees

A legislative proposal to provide emergency housing for Ukrainian refugees has been reintroduced in the Faroese parliament, Løgtingið, reports Faroese public broadcaster Kringvarp Føroya.

The draft law, presented by the government, would grant the national public works agency Landsverk authority to prepare and maintain emergency housing. The agency would also set rental and maintenance terms for these properties.

Under the proposal, Landsverk would be exempt from appointing a dedicated social coordinator for the housing, instead outsourcing support services to external providers. Rental prices would be determined in consultation with transport ministry officials.

The law, if passed, would remain in effect until 2029, with provisions active through 2028. Last spring, many Ukrainian refugees in the Faroe Islands lost their housing due to seasonal tourism demand, property sales, or financial constraints. Some were temporarily accommodated in Barnaheiminum, a children’s home in the capital, Tórshavn.