Norwegian city relents: Holocaust survivors can move to Jewish nursing home

• Author: Cnaan Liphshitz/JTA
• Date: 11 March 2021
• Published date: 11 March 2021
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

On Wednesday, the Skien municipality held a City Council vote on the matter after earlier this year declining the request of Leif Arild, 86, and an older applicant because it "can provide a good and adequate offer" locally, as a municipal spokesperson told the Varden newspaper this week.

Varden ran an op-ed calling on Skien to reverse its decision, and the Jewish Community in Oslo also urged the municipality to allow the survivors to move.

Elderly Norwegians are eligible for state-funded housing solutions. If their needs cannot be met in their area of residence, they are referred to appropriate facilities elsewhere. The person's municipality of residence shoulders the extra costs connected to the out-of-town referral. The municipality also evaluates the person's application for referral.

Ervin Kohn, head of...