25 students face sudden move as Orivesi campus loses heating

Twenty-five upper secondary students living at the Orivesi campus in Finland will have to move out after district heating is cut off on 5 October, Yle reports. The move comes as the autumn matriculation examinations are beginning.

The campus is operated by the cultural cooperative Pro Orivesi, which says its financial difficulties have left it unable to cover heating costs with rental income. The campus occupies the former Orivesi College premises.

The students, most of whom came to Orivesi Upper Secondary School from other municipalities, rent their homes from the cooperative.

Orivesi city will offer them apartments in a municipal rental housing company’s properties on Ahotie, about three kilometres from the town centre. Students can also apply for homes in other Kotikoivu properties or on the private rental market.

The city says it learned of the situation only in early September, when the cooperative asked for support. However, the city says it cannot provide financial assistance to rescue the cooperative.

“We have 9,000 square metres of property here, and with our current rental income we cannot pay the heating costs,” said Outi Söderholm, managing director of the Orivesi campus.

The cooperative says the campus will cease operating if its heating supply cannot be secured. Its finances have also been weakened by the city’s decision to end leases for spaces it previously rented there, including youth and sports facilities.

In addition to the students, the campus has just under 20 other rental residents and more than 20 companies and organisations as tenants. The cooperative says some companies may struggle to find replacement premises in Orivesi.

The campus has hosted training sessions, events, concerts, courses and community gatherings for years. Orivesi Mayor Juha Kuusisto said the city understood that the move would cause additional concern for students and their guardians.