In principle, people who obtain this status must leave these reception structures within 12 months. However, given the situation of the housing market in the Grand Duchy, this is often not possible, and refugees are accommodated in these centres for an average of 600 days. This average has increased steadily over the past few years.
These clarifications were made by Minister for Family Affairs Corinne Cahen and Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn in their reply to a parliamentary question by MP Nathalie Oberweis from the Left Party (Déi Lénk).
Once the refugee status has been obtained, the beneficiary of international protection must pay a contribution for their accommodation in the reception structure when the 12-month period has passed. Not everyone is able to pay this sum in time. In the last three years, 110 legal proceedings have been opened against beneficiaries of international protection for non-payment of accumulated debts.
The ministers also point out that the structures managed by the ONA are intended for applicants for international protection. Once this status is recognised, beneficiaries are only accommodated in these facilities for a limited period of time before they have to leave the centres.
Despite this, almost half of the people housed in ONA centres have a recognised refugee status and should in fact be living elsewhere.
