We support refugees and help them integrate into Finnish society.
We offer guidance, advice and basic information about Finnish society, social services, social security, housing, Finnish language learning, health services and family reunification. Refugees can apply for supplementary and preventive social assistance through Immigrant Services.
A refugee can be a client of Immigrant Services for a maximum of three years starting from the first time they are registered in the Population Information System.
Service counselling and new clients
Immigrant Services provides service counselling with limited staff due to the coronavirus situation. New clients are received by service counselling staff at the office.
Service counselling is provided at the Immigrant Services office in Matinkylä. Address: Pyyntitie 3. Remember to take a queue number.
Service counselling opening hours and availability of interpreters:
- Monday 9:00–11:00 (Arabic and Dari), 12:00–15:00 (Arabic)
- Tuesday 12:00–15:00 (Arabic and Dari)
- Wednesday closed
- Thursday 9:00–11:00 and 12:00–15:00 (Arabic)
- Friday 9:00–12:00 (Dari, also Tigrinya every other Friday)
The queue number system is closed 15 minutes before the office closes.
You can also contact us by phone, tel. 043 827 3417 (9:00–15:00).
Emergency social services during office hours
Emergency social services are provided at the same location as service counselling.
Two social workers and two social counsellors work in emergency social services. Service counselling of Immigrant Services, tel. 043 827 3417 (9:00–15:00).
Emergency social services also deal with undocumented immigrants’ matters. Helpline for undocumented immigrants, tel. 040 518 6687.
Our partners can also contact the emergency social services via the City of Espoo switchboard, tel. 09 816 21 or by email: paivystys.maahanmuuttajapalvelut@espoo.fi. Please do not send sensitive personal information via email because our email address is not encrypted.
Emergency social services staff work in shifts, so employees do not always have time to answer if you call their personal number. For this reason, we ask you not to call our employees’ personal numbers in urgent matters or if you need counselling.
Eeva Ström, Senior Social Worker, tel. 040 509 6764
Social work to support the integration of people over 30
Social workers’ telephone numbers
- Maaro Niskanen, tel. 040 639 4217
- Maura Nurmi, tel. 040 554 1555
Social counsellor’s telephone number
- Maiju Tähtinen, tel. 040 162 6755
- Neea Nukarinen, tel. 040 505 4547
Social work to support the integration of families with children
Senior Social Worker, Mailis Uusiniemi, tel. 040 553 3389
Social workers' direct telephone numbers
- Inka Pelkonen, tel. 050 563 1549
- Saara Mustalahti, tel. 040 639 4996
- Saara Honkanen, tel. 040 639 4070
- Elena Oksa, tel. 040 636 8167
Social counsellors' direct telephone numbers
- Elisa Rinta-Lusa, tel. 040 639 4600
- Julia Martiskainen, tel. 040 639 4713
- Stella Neri-Porvali, tel. 043 826 9472
- Wilma Paakkari, tel. 040 636 8179
- Emma Barbashina, tel. 040 551 5325
Counsellors’ telephone numbers
- Nasim Arshadi, tel. 050 351 2107
- Anne Parisot, tel. 050 525 0510
- Afrim Salihi, tel. 050 548 2917
- Piia Puskala, tel. 040 506 4563
Social work to support the integration of adults
Aino-Marja Kairamo, Senior Social Worker, tel. 043 826 8747
Social workers' telephone numbers
- Isa Westerholm, tel. 043 827 3458
Social counsellors' telephone numbers
customers under 30 years of age
-
Sini Rytinki, tel. 043 825 8655
- Tuulia Simulainen, tel. 040 636 8226
customers over 30 years of age
- Jaana Leinonen, tel. 040 550 3130
Counsellors’ telephone numbers
customers under 30 years of age
- Arja Liisa Vuorinen, tel. 050 525 0511
customers over 30 years of age
- Dunia Al-Sindi, tel. 040 572 9039
Nurses of Immigrations Services
Nurses’ telephone numbers
- 046 877 1166
- 050 331 1494
- 043 826 7479
Unaccompanied minors
Espoo’s group home accommodates asylum seekers who arrive in Finland as minors without a guardian.
- Marko Uuttu, Service Supervisor, tel. 043 826 7670
- Jaanika Aho, Supervising Counsellor, tel. 040 639 3946
- Kari Liimatainen, Supervising Counsellor, tel. 040 639 4130
- Fadumo Mohamed, Nurse, tel. 046 877 1606
Kivenlahti and Hirviportti family group homes
Family group homes accommodate unaccompanied, underage young people who have been granted a residence permit. The main responsibility of the units is to provide care and education for the young people and support their integration process.
- Teija Savolainen, Service Supervisor, tel. 046 877 1270
- Hirviportti family group home, Soraja Harjula, Supervising Counsellor, tel. 040 508 2922
- Kivenlahti family group home, Matleena Mensah, Supervising Counsellor, tel. 050 553 0599
Social work for unaccompanied minors
- Annika Pirinen, Senior Social Worker, tel. 040 551 4385
- Group home and private accommodation, social worker, tel. 050 306 8242
- Young people with a residence permit, social worker, tel. 043 826 8321
- Integrating family care, social worker, tel. 040 141 6542
Integrating after-care
Young people who arrive in Finland without a guardian at the age of 18–24 may reserve after-care services. The purpose of after-care is to support young people’s independent living, employment and studies.
Laura Rapo, Senior Social Worker, tel. 040 506 8272
Social workers' telephone numbers
- Härkönen Miia, tel. 043 827 2528
- Asén Karolina, tel. 040 508 3047
- Antonius Kristiina tel. 040 636 8432
Social counsellors' telephone numbers
Psychiatric nurse
- Mansikka Tarja, tel. 043 827 2529