UKHome

UKHome – Youth housing in the former patient hotel at UKH.

The project is supported by the Realdania Foundation, the Velux Foundation, and the Bikuben Foundation.

UKHome opened in August 2020 and consists of 24 apartments located above the Youth Culture House (UKH) at the old County Hospital on Tage-Hansen’s Street. UKHome is a collaboration between MSB (Social Affairs and Employment) and MKB (Cultural Administration).

What is ‘project’ UKHome?

Thanks to the users of UKH and the tremendous efforts of the staff, our dream of attaching housing to the UKH project became a reality.

Since its establishment, UKHome has developed into a solid and vibrant housing community. Here, young students and young people without housing or a social network in the city live side by side—on equal terms—in an environment that supports well-being, creativity, and community.

The project’s focus includes helping to alleviate youth homelessness in Aarhus and turning a negative life situation into a positive one. No young person likes to be labeled as “at risk,” which is why there is a shared understanding at UKHome that all residents are simply regarded as any other young person. After all, as they say, “things can happen in anyone’s life.” In addition, when you move in, you have a home—so there is no need to distinguish between people.

“No young person likes to be put in a box as someone “at risk.” That’s why, at UKHome, there is a shared understanding that all residents are simply regarded as any other young person“

Facts about the housing units

Each unit has its own bathroom, toilet, and kitchenette with a hotplate, extractor hood, refrigerator, and sink.

Specifically, the housing units are located in the building’s east wing. There are 24 one-room apartments of about 14.5 m². In the official descriptions, the size is listed as around 30–35 m², but this includes a share of the common areas.

The rooms are spread over two floors with central corridors, where half are now rented out to young students and the other half to young people without housing, through a collaboration with the Kollegiekontoret (the student housing office).

Whats the rent?

Read more here (in danish): https://ungdomsboligaarhus.dk/wb/search

We have three different sizes:

• Type 1 costs 3,166 DKK per month.
• Type 2 costs 3,379 DKK per month.
• Type 3 costs 3,592 DKK per month.

Are electricity, internet, heating, and water included in the rent?
Yes, electricity, internet, and heating are included in the rent.

The open common areas

…includes shared kitchens on both floors with a stove, dishwasher, large dining area, and built-in cabinets. Two common living rooms on the ground floor provide space for socializing and relaxation, featuring, among other things, a hand-painted mural and furniture built collaboratively.

How long is a contract at UKHome valid?

A contract is valid for 2 years. After that, it is possible to apply for an extension. Students can apply for a 2-year extension, while a “young person on the verge of homelessness” can apply for a 1-year extension. A committee reviews and decides on the individual exemption applications.

In need of a little extra support?

There is a social caretaker, see staff here, who helps with everything from questions about ventilation to questions about life. At UKHome, residents also receive support in facilitating community meetings and group activities. Through UKHome, it is possible to get assistance with study guidance, networking, job searching, and more, as well as being connected to a CTI (community-based support) if needed.

What support do you receive when living at UKHome?

When moving into UKHome as a “young person on the verge of homelessness,” you are assigned a CTI support person (CTI stands for “Critical Time Intervention”). This is a type of coping mentor. The support lasts for 9 months but can be extended. This is your primary, individual, outreach support.

In addition, the house employs a part-time social caretaker (30 hours) and a community host (12 hours)—you can always reach out to them. This could be for having morning coffee and chatting about the weekend, fixing a dripping tap, dealing with a breakup, or having someone accompany you to psychiatric assessment appointments—so the support covers a wide range of needs.

Is there an age limit for living at UKHome?

Yes, you must be no older than 30 years.

How do you apply to UKHome? And other questions?

You apply by sending a motivated application to the social caretaker, Anne Scherrebeck, via her email:

Anne Scherrebeck: ash@kollegiekontoret.dk
(where you right now will get in contact with her substitue Kristina instead)

If you have questions about the project, you can, in addition to contacting Anne, also write to Lone, who is affiliated with the project:

Lone Jensen: lonej@aarhus.dk  

How does the waiting list at UKHome work?

When you submit a motivated application, you can indicate that your application may be kept for later if there are no available units. However, since UKHome is self-referring and can select new residents based on who is assessed to have a need and can contribute to the positive community, it is not a traditional waiting list.

Articles and writings about UKHome

Below you will find links to articles and writings about UKHome, created by our partners and others (unfortunately in all of them are in danish):

https://realdania.dk/projekter/ukhome

https://carlberg.dk/cases/ukhome

https://www.rumsans.dk/artikler/ukh-skaber-stottende-ungdomsfaellesskaber#galleri

Evaluation report of UKHome (researched and written by Carlberg)

In 2021, an evaluation report of UKHome was prepared by Carlberg. The report focuses on the importance of the physical environment for residents’ well-being and sense of community. The analysis in the report is divided into three spatial zones:

1. The individual apartment in the form of the student room

2. The common areas in the form of shared kitchens, corridors, and common living rooms

3. The local environment in the form of UKH and the surrounding neighborhood

You can find the report below (also in danish):