Reception centre

At the reception centre, our operations are based on the values of Setlementti Puijola: equality, justice, and locality. Currently, the number of clients at the Kuopio and Iisalmi reception centers is nearly 2,500 people. We employ already about 50 reception center workers.

The reception center in Kuopio, operated by Puijola, began in April 2022 as a result of the war in Ukraine and expanded to Iisalmi in November of the same year. Puijola also responded to the request of the Finnish Immigration Service between 2015-2020 by operating the Tarina reception centre.

Housing

Those seeking international protection and those receiving temporary protection are accommodated in a reception centre. The housing in a reception centre can be arranged either in separate apartments or in communal accommodation. Kuopio and Iisalmi reception centres are housing-based centres, which means they arrange housing for their clients in separate apartments. The deputy director of the reception centre, Hannu Tourunen, is responsible for housing matters, phone: 044 4936586, hannu.tourunen@puijola.net

Social Services

The social services of the reception center are aimed at those seeking international protection, those receiving temporary protection, and victims of human trafficking who do not have a municipality of residence in Finland. Social services employ social workers and social instructors.

The emergency number for social services is 044 706 1268 and it is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 10 am to 11 am for matters related to social services.

Health Services

The reception center has its own nursing team, which organizes and provides health care services for clients registered at the reception center. The team is responsible for all health-related matters of asylum seekers and those receiving temporary protection. Our clients come from various cultural backgrounds and are of all ages.

Health care staff can be reached via telephone: 044 706 1268. Health care staff can be contacted on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am to 11 am. Over the phone, the nurses asses the need for care and arrange the necessary follow-up care.

Employment

A person seeking temporary protection has the right to work immediately after submitting an application to the police or border authorities. The Immigration Service processes the applications.

An asylum seeker is allowed to work in three or six months time after submitting the asylum application.

Income

Reception allowance is granted to ensure a circumstances necessary for a dignified life and to promote independent coping. The reception center, where the applicant is registered as a client, grants the reception allowance upon application.

Values

The reception center provides safe, equal, client-oriented, humane, and integrative reception center work with high quality, professionalism, and cost-effectiveness. The operation is flexible and responsive to rapidly changing situations and is actively developed. Our activities are based on the values of Kuopio Setlementti Puijola, which you can read more about below.