In the canton of Zurich, the brokerage of accommodation for Ukrainian refugees is in full swing. The city of Uster makes an effort and makes its civil defense accommodation available.
Usterm City Councilor Petra Bättig, Government Councilor Mario Fehr and Jörg Kündig, President of the Association of Municipal Councils (right).
The Gschwader civil protection facility in Uster is officially called “Protected accommodation for partner organizations” (GUP). It also serves as a hostel and group accommodation for clubs and can accommodate a maximum of 78 people. There is a large kitchen, sanitary facilities, several bedrooms as well as lounges, offices and storage rooms.
The GUP Gschwader has recently been completely rebuilt. And because it has not yet been rented out, the city of Uster can now make the facility available to Ukrainian refugees. This was announced by the cantonal security director Mario Fehr (independent) and the Ustermer SP social director Petra Bättig at the weekend.
Fast placement is a priority
As the city of Uster wrote in a media release on Saturday, more than three million people have fled since war broke out in Ukraine three weeks ago. Several thousand people have arrived in Switzerland in the past few days. The Security Directorate asked the communities to immediately plan the care, accommodation and human resources for the reception of people from Ukraine.
«The contribution of the Zurich municipalities is central. With combined forces, the federal government, canton and municipalities can cope with the extraordinary situation », government councilor Mario Fehr is quoted in the press release. Jörg Kündig, President of the Cantonal Association of Municipal Councils, was also present. When asked, the FDP cantonal council and mayor of Gossau said: “At the moment it’s about finding infrastructure such as civil defense systems quickly. For medium-term accommodation, however, other forms of housing are needed.”
The admission rate for refugees in the Zurich community is currently 0.5 percent. This means that the municipalities have to take in 5 refugees for every 1000 inhabitants. Since people with protection status S are counted, the quota should be exhausted quickly, according to Kündig. “To clarify how this should be dealt with, talks are needed with the canton,” he says.
150 refugees expected in Uster
The city of Uster is currently preparing for the arrival of 100 to 150 Ukrainian refugees. The temporary opening of the civil protection facility is an immediate measure. The accommodation is located at the Gschwader school building site. The school administration has informed teachers and parents about the accommodation of the refugees, mainly women and children, the city states. The outside spaces would be used in close consultation with the school management, the security department and the municipal asylum and refugee coordination in the operation of the GUP Gschwader, it said.
Apartments in Uster urgently needed
According to Petra Bättig, the city will accommodate the refugees from Ukraine in decentralized apartments and shared flats as quickly as possible. There are currently intensive clarifications with private individuals who have offered housing. The city also has apartments that it can provide.
The cantonal safety department has set up a helpline. She accepts offers for the accommodation of refugees at [email protected] and phone 044 404 52 00. The cantonal social welfare office prepares the information about the housing and room offers for the municipalities. The city of Uster has already received several offers in this way.
But the Ustermer social leader says: “The city is urgently looking for additional apartments that can also serve as accommodation in the longer term.” Please ask the population to report the offers to the cantonal helpline.