One-hundred-and-eighty to 200 people are currently homeless in Reykjavík. There is currently a shortage of accommodation for the homeless.
Central Reykjavík. Photo: Páll Stefánsson/Iceland Review.
According to Sigtryggur Jónsson, the head of the municipal service center for downtown Reykjavík and the suburb of Hlíðar, it is difficult to determine exactly how many homeless individuals there are in Iceland, but it is known that there are more men than women.
A homeless man from Latvia was found dead on Klambratún before last weekend, ruv.is reports.
The man was reportedly unable to get a place in Gistiskýlið, the shelter for homeless people in downtown Reykjavík.
A total of 120 men have tried to spend the night at the shelter this year but of those 24 individuals have been turned away due to lack of place, and in some cases, due to bad behavior. The shelter is open from 5 pm until 10 am. Individuals can arrive anytime during those hours.
Around one third of homeless men in Iceland are of foreign origin, a large increase from last year.
It was announced at a Reykjavík City Council meeting earlier today that a new shelter will be opened on Lindargata next spring. The current shelter on Þingholtstræti will be closed, as stated in a press release.
ZR
