Helena Öman sleeps where she can find space. The 36-year-old came to Luleå from Kalix seeking emergency housing that doesn't exist in her hometown.
Luleå's emergency shelter offers just ten beds across five rooms. Guests can only apply for three nights at a time and must leave by 6:45 AM each morning.
"It's an extremely vulnerable situation," Öman said in an interview. "I'm essentially a homeless migrant from Kalix because there's no emergency housing there. To get a spot in Luleå's shelter, you need to be registered here. I am now, but that's not easy to arrange when you're homeless."
During winter months, she relies on new acquaintances in Luleå for temporary shelter. This arrangement falls far short of ideal living conditions.
"You're forced into criminal behavior just to make things work," she explained.
The shelter's strict morning departure time leaves residents searching for daytime refuge. Many find temporary respite at Lyktan, a meeting place located beside the emergency housing facility.
"It's good they opened Lyktan right next door," Öman noted. "That means we don't have to wander around town all day."
Homeless individuals must apply for emergency shelter through Luleå municipality's housing officers or visit the municipal service center during daytime hours.
The system creates clear gaps in Sweden's social safety net. Vulnerable people move between cities seeking basic shelter, only to encounter bureaucratic barriers that leave them sleeping in unsafe conditions.
Northern Sweden's harsh winters make adequate shelter a matter of survival. The limited emergency housing capacity forces difficult choices for those without permanent homes.