PM to reform homeless services approach

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced plans to reform the approach of the system to the most vulnerable homeless during her speech at the opening of the Folketing on Tuesday. The proposed ‘dignity reform’ aims to provide a safer, more dignified life away from judgmental stares and pavement steps. The plan includes expanding funding for drug consumption rooms beyond the existing locations in Aarhus, Odense, Vejle, and Copenhagen to more cities, increased operating hours, and additional spaces. Frederiksen also highlighted the issue of public debt trapping homeless individuals in a vicious cycle and suggested rethinking how the most vulnerable inmates are treated, possibly allowing them to serve sentences in a space with addiction treatment and healthcare, away from gang members. The Prime Minister emphasized the complexity of establishing special rules and who they would apply to, while reaffirming that the government intends to introduce a penal reform with tougher sentences for hardened criminals.