Árborg weighs small-house housing for homeless residents

The municipality of Árborg is considering setting up small homes for residents experiencing homelessness, Morgunblaðið reports. A proposal from the municipality’s welfare committee was discussed by the town council this week, which assigned a working group to determine the next steps.

The working group and the municipality’s construction and environment division will examine possible locations for the homes and estimate the cost of the project’s first phase. They will then present the matter to the town council again.

Mayor Bragi Bjarnason told Morgunblaðið that the issue had been under consideration for some time. A report has been prepared on homelessness in the municipality, and officials are now looking at available options. The number of people affected is small, he said, amounting to only a handful.

Some Árborg residents have used shelters, including those run by Reykjavík City. Árborg pays for the service according to the applicable fee schedule, Bjarnason said.

A decision on the next steps is expected closer to the end of the year. Bjarnason said it was important to handle the matter in a way that had the community’s support.