Ghetto (Denmark)

Ghetto is a term used by Danish authorities and media to describe districts with social problems, and which have majority populations of non-Western ethnicities.[1][2] A list of districts, Ghettolisten, is published by the Danish Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing.

Criteria

pre 2018 criteria

There are 5 criteria and at least three have to be fulfilled for a district to be included on the list:[3]

  • The share of inhabitants aged 18–64 neither in employment nor education is higher than 40%, as an average over the span of 2 years.
  • The share of immigrants and their descendants from non-Western countries is higher than 50%.
  • The share of inhabitants aged 18 and over convicted for infractions against the penal law, weapons law or drug regulations is greater than 2.7%, as an average over the span of 2 years.
  • The share of inhabitants of aged 30–59 with only primary education or less, is greater than 50%.
  • The average gross income for inhabitants aged 18–64 excluding those in education is less than 55% of the average gross income for the region in question.

In 2017, no area fulfilled all five criteria while four districts fulfilled four criteria, these were Mjølnerparken in Copenhagen, Gadehavegård in Høje-Taastrup, Vollsmose in Odense and Gellerupparken/Toveshøj in Aarhus.[3] Prior to the May 2018 revision of the criteria, 22 districts were on the list.[4]

May 2018 criteria

In May 2018 the criteria were revised and districts which fulfilled 3 out of the 5 criteria were placed on the list. This changed the number of ghetto districts from 22 to 30.[4]

  • Many inhabitants lack employment or education. Only educations approved in Denmark count.[4]
  • There are many inhabitants who only have primary education (Folkeskole)[4]
  • Many inhabitants have low income.[4]
  • More than half the inhabitants are from non-Western countries or are descendants of migrants non-Western countries.[4]

Severe ghettos

If a district has figured on the list four years in a row, the district is classified as severe ghetto (Danish: hårde ghettoer). In May 2018 there were 16 severe ghettoes.[5] Individiuals receiving social welfare such as social benefits, education aid or integration aid are not allowed to settle in severe ghettoes.[5]

Government response

In March 2018, the government of Denmark presented an action plan with 22 proposals where the Denmark would be rid of the ghettoes by 2030. Among the suggestions were funds of 12 billion DKK to have some districts demolished and others redeveloped.[6] Regulations would change to facilitate evictions of criminals from their housing in the ghettoes.[6]The plan was accepted by the Danish parliament in May 2018.[7] On the same occasion, the criteria for list inclusion were changed.[4]

Before children in ghettoes start school, they will undergo a Danish language test and be offered language training before the school starts.[5]

Public housing

the share of public housing in ghetto areas would be reduced to a maximum of 40% in districts that had been on the ghetto list for 4 consecutive years. Consequently, 9 buildings with 600 apartments in the Gellerup district and 3 buildings with 318 in the Bispehaven district of Aarhus. As a result,1000 families were forced to move.[8] In their stead, 2000 homes for ownership and 657 business properties are planned to be built.[9]

All meetings of housing associations are to be held in Danish, even if some housing association board members do not speak the language.[10]

Moving restrictions

Convicted criminals and people on public welfare would face restrictions on moving to areas on the list.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Hvad betyder ghetto egentlig?". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  2. ↑ "Her er den nye ghettoliste: Rekordfå ghettoområder i Danmark". www.b.dk (in Danish). 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  3. 1 2 "Ghettolisten 2017 - Transportministeriet". www.trm.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-02-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Disse boligområder er nu på ghettolisten". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  5. 1 2 3 "Flertal forbyder kontanthjælpsmodtagere at flytte i ghettoer". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  6. 1 2 "Ny plan mod ghettoer". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  7. ↑ "Bredt flertal laver ghettoaftale". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  8. ↑ "1000 familier i Aarhus skal flytte på grund af ghettoplan". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  9. ↑ "1000 familier i Aarhus skal flytte på grund af ghettoplan". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  10. 1 2 "Bredt flertal laver ghettoaftale". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2018-07-14.
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