The housing crisis continues - students risk being left without housing

Soon the summer is over and the autumn term for the country's college students begins, but many risk leaving without housing. Today, 12 out of 33 cities are so-called red-listed, which means that it takes longer than one semester to get housing from the time they started to plug, according to Sweden's unified student union, SFS.

- It looks as bad as last year. Many students are forced to start their study time by looking for a home. To constantly look for somewhere to live takes focus from the studies, says Matilda Strömberg, chair of SFS.

The result also shows that 12 cities are marked in yellow, which means that they can offer accommodation sometime during the autumn term. Only nine cities have green markings and can offer a first-hand contract within one month.

- Many student unions around the country contact us and say that several students cannot start or have to cancel their education because they cannot find an accommodation, says Matilda Strömberg.

In Linköping, the housing situation has worsened since last year. The growing student city has gone from kateogy yellow to red.

- Many students who contact us are desperate and panic. They ask if they should refuse the place they got because they have nowhere to live, says Sara Sandberg, who is a housing representative at Kombo, a tenant organization for students at Linköping University.

She is clear that Kombo never tells anyone to refuse a study place.

- It always resolves in the end, although it may take some time. It is clear that we need more housing for our students. Sure it is being built, but they are not able to keep up with the pace that people are taking in the education, says Sara Sandberg.

But even if a student is offered housing, the rent is often too high.

- Many newly built student housing is too expensive. Students may then turn to the secondary market, which is not safe.

Matilda Strömberg believes that when there is not enough housing for all students, access to higher education becomes a class issue.

- The conclusion is that your finances or the contacts you have influence whether you can attend an education or not. It affects the individual, but also society at large. Higher education should be accessible to everyone, she says.