The women's shelter in Arvidsjaur stopped seeking money from the municipality: "Said it was not an idea"

In 2012, the women's shelter in Arvidsjaur most recently applied for operational support from the municipality and was rejected.

The following year, they intended to apply for support again, but then the municipality of Arvidsjaur proposed that they should instead assist the emergency service with the help of applying for money from the National Board of Health and Welfare.

Something the emergency service did and got through.

But that money is not enough, according to the women's shelter Hera's chairman Gabriella Eklund.

She had hoped that the municipality would also contribute with financial support.

- Over the years, we have been informed by the social services and officials in politics that there is no money to support the women's shelter.

They said it was not an idea, says Gabriella Eklund.

Wrestled with financing of sheltered housing

According to the rules, the emergency service may not use the support from the National Board of Health and Welfare for either staff or rent.

Therefore, the women's shelter in Arvidsjaur is struggling with difficulties in financing the sheltered housing.

- Today we rely on the rent being paid through grants and gifts from companies.

Receiving a municipal subsidy to cover the fixed expenses would facilitate and ensure the sheltered housing we have today, says Gabriella Eklund.

But could you not at any time during all these years have tried to apply for money again from the municipality?

- No, because they said that there was no money, we chose not to spend time and effort on applying for funds that do not exist, says Gabriella Eklund.

"

I can not promise anything"

The new social manager at Arvidsjaur municipality, Peter Öhman, took office in March this year.

He says that there are no plans for operational support for the women's shelter at present, but that it is not impossible in the future.

- I can not promise anything, because it must be decided politically, but I still want to say that we have a good collaboration with the women's shelter and I think they think so too.

I will say as it is, we have not received any application from the women's shelter since 2012, he says.

The head of social services therefore emphasizes that the ball is now with the women's emergency service to come in with an application for an operating grant.

- Because we do not have an outreach activity in that way, says Peter Öhman.

"Should be in the municipality's interest"

But at the women's emergency service, they want the municipality to take the first step and show that there is a will to support the emergency service financially.

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I think it should be in the municipality's interest to support our activities and take responsibility for this societal problem.

Therefore, we welcome a dialogue about financial support, but we will not submit an application until we get okay that it is actually worth our time and commitment to apply, says Gabriella Eklund.