Preventing Segregation vs. Managing Diversity: A Comparative Analysis of Refugee Housing Approaches in Helsinki and Berlin, with Recommendations for Adaptive Policy Integration

Abstract

This thesis investigates and compares refugee housing policies in Berlin and Helsinki to establish how urban policy can steer clear of segregation and foster social inclusion. It examines the spatial, legal, and institutional determinants influencing refugee integration, drawing attention to how municipal housing systems translate general migration policy into practice. Using qualitative document analysis, the study reviews legal frameworks, city strategies, and institutional reports across eight thematic areas, including housing models, governance structures, and spatial allocation. The findings reveal that Berlin’s fragmented, reactive system contrasts with Helsinki’s coordinated, early-integration model. While both cities face challenges such as limited affordable housing and public resistance, Helsinki’s approach demonstrates stronger alignment between integration goals and housing practice. Withdrawing from comparative analysis, the thesis proposes an adaptive policy model facilitating flexible, equitable, and locally oriented solutions to housing refugees. This is posited as a model of orientation for European cities to integrate housing policy with inclusive integration results. The study contributes to academic and policy debates surrounding urban asylum governance and places importance on the spatial equity, institutional coherence, and adaptive capacity dimensions of refugee housing.