From Iceland — Kaffitár's CFO Objects To Homeless Shelters

Kaffitár’s CFO Objects To Homeless Shelters

Published May 22, 2020

Sam O'Donnell
Photo by
Art Bicnick

Guðrún Drífa Hólmgeirsdóttir, CFO at Kaffitár, apparently objects to the construction of tiny homes for Reykjavík’s small homeless population. She has attracted negative attention for her comments about the cottages that are slated to be erected, Kvennablaðið reports.

The tiny homes would be built in the district of Grafarvogur, not far from Gullinbrú Bridge. The area in question is grassy and currently used as additional parking for nearby businesses, including Kaffitár.

According to Guðrún, construction of the cottages “could undermine the value of the property and have a disruptive effect on the cafe’s operations.”

Her words were met with harsh backlash. Many of the company’s regulars have expressed their displeasure with the statements, some of whom have vowed to never return.

The Grafarvogur Residential Council had not anticipated any significant opposition among the residents of the neighborhood, partially because the tiny houses are set to be located far from the proper residential district of Grafarvogur.

Plans to build the tiny houses have been in the works for quite some time. The houses in question are a small part of a larger project nearly two years in the making. When completed, they will provide housing to the small population of homeless people in Reykjavík. As of this writing, there are 360 homeless people in Reykjavík.

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