Geodemographical analysis as basis for settlement of imigrants

The Danish Municipalities have a common challenge: How do we house and integrate immigrants? During 2017, 8.500 people are expected to be granted a permission to stay in Denmark.

It is of importance that the immigrants are placed. It is essential not to create ghettos with a low degree of interaction with the rest of the society, enhancing the risks of parallel societies. Today, there are problems in several distinct areas with high population of immigrants; twice as many people compared to other areas with rental condominiums feel unsecure and harassed. The Danish politicians discard suggestions of immigrant-villages of the same reason.

The government wants immigrants to be distributed evenly in the different parts of Denmark. The reason is that by living amongst Danes, it is easier to be integrated, to understand the society and hopefully to be part of the labour marked as well.

The Government and Local Government Denmark assigned in 2016 1 billion DDK to this task. 640 mill. DDK are allocated building of new family houses with a low rent, suited for immigrants. With the national policy and attached money, the Government invite the Danish municipalities to come up with creative solutions.

On the other hand, some Danish municipalities are quite eager to invite immigrants to stay, since they are facing decline and shrinkage due to the ongoing urbanisation. Furthermore, many production companies have a hard time attracting employees, and immigrants with the right skills could be a solution.

Jammerbugt Municipality and COWI presents their work with developing a GIS-based decision support system, which add administration as well as politicians making sound decisions about housing of immigrants. Decisions based on place bound characteristics as well as statistics.

A solution that builds on sound knowledge of the place as well as the immigrants.