Investment grants for special groups include, for example, people with disabilities, senior citizens with dementia and poor health, homeless people, refugees, students, and people with mental health and substance abuse problems. In order to improve the housing conditions of specific groups, grants are available to increase the supply of rental apartments that are reasonable in terms of housing costs and suitable for their purpose.

Interest subsidies loans for communities

Designated non-profit organizations may receive an interest subsidy loan for the construction of rental, right-of-occupancy, and shared-ownership apartment buildings, for the construction of a rental house in the form of a housing association, to own a rental apartment, and fundamental improvement and acquisition of rental and right-of-occupancy buildings. Applications can be submitted to the City of Jyväskylä without a specific application period.

The Housing Finance and Development Center ARA contributes to housing associations and individual repair grants. Grants are awarded for apartment repairs for the elderly and disabled people, also housing associations to, for example, build a lift and improve accessibility. All the grants have a continuous application period.

The city supports its lift and accessibility grants to such housing companies to which ARA has awarded astate lift or accessibility grantsellaisille 

The feeding must not cause health or hygiene harm to neighbours or the surrounding environment. Do not let rats, mice or pest birds enter the feeding place. Stop feeding if the surrounding area gets dirty or if pest birds or rats multiply in the area.  

In public areas such as parks or recreation areas, the feeding of birds requires the permission of the landowner. The housing company may prohibit or restrict the feeding of birds in its general rules in yards, on balconies, or on window sills. 

More extensive rat sightings can be reported to the environmental health authorities of the Jyväskylä region either 

• by email or 
• the Jyväskylä e-service 

In the feedback system one may, among other things, indicate on a map where the rats have been observed.  

No smoking 

The Tobacco Act aims to prevent people from taking up the consumption of tobacco products. The Act supports quitting the use tobacco products and protects people from exposure to tobacco smoke.

The aim of the Tobacco Act is to stop the use of tobacco and nicotine products containing toxic substances and causing addiction. 

When you suspect an indoor air problem, primarily contact the property owner or their representative (housing company manager, chairman of the board of directors, landlord) who is obliged to clarify the cause of the problem and remedy the defects. 

For example, the ventilation plays a key role in maintaining indoor air conditions. The purpose of ventilation is to bring clean air indoors and to remove any impurities originating in the building. 

Basic veterinary services are available in the Jyväskylä Region from Monday to Friday during office hours and emergency veterinary care at all times of the day.

Municipal veterinary clinics provide basic veterinary services and advice, such as:

• pet health checks
• vaccinations
• microchips
• pet passports
• neutering
• spaying of female cats
• treatment of diseases and 
• euthanasia

The clinics do not have X-ray machines, inhalation anaesthesia or dental drills. 

Environmental health monitors drinking water used as drinking water, for food preparation and other household purposes. Drinking water is also water used in food establishments and in public or commercial activities. 

We also provide advice and instructions on matters related to private wells and maintained springs. 

The Environmental health authorities in the Jyväskylä region supervise, among other things, 

• public beaches 
• public swimming pools 
• spas and 
• ice swimming spots 

Monitoring the water quality at public beaches 

The Environmental health authorities monitor public beaches (so-called EU beaches and small public beaches) in accordance with the Health Protection Act and the swimming water regulations.  

Under the Animal Welfare Act, municipalities are obliged to arrange for the temporary care of stray dogs and cats and other similar small-scale companion and recreational animals found and recovered in their area. 

Municipalities in the Jyväskylä collaborative area have agreed with service providers on the collection and storage of stray dogs, cats and other small animals. 

Dogs and cats are kept for at least 24 hours. A fee shall be charged from the owner of the animal for the care days. If the animal is not picked up, it will be relocated to a new home.  

The purpose of animal protection is to protect animals from suffering, pain and distress and to promote animal welfare and good treatment. 

Animal welfare supervision is carried out in the operational area by supervising veterinarians and municipal veterinarians. Animal welfare notifications are primarily made to the supervising veterinarian. 

Outside office hours, emergency animal welfare duties are carried out by large animal emergency services and the police. 

If you suspect you have contracted food poisoning or have noticed another flaw in food or a food product, please file a report regarding it.  

Suspected food poisoning notification or notification of a food defect

HarrastusLaturi (Hobbies for children and youth!) gathers free and low-threshold hobbies for different ages. There are about 250 diverse hobby groups available every week around Jyväskylä. Various sports as well as art and cultural hobbies.

You can browse hobbies at HarrastusLaturi 

What does a low-threshold hobby mean?

A low-threshold hobby means that starting a hobby can be easy:

A lift improves quality of living in all phases of life, makes everyday life easier, and adds to the safety and accessibility of a living environment. It enables independent activities for people with mobility aids and increases the value of a dwelling. Removal of barriers also entails unobstructed access from outside into a building or into the dwellings and common parts within. People with mobility aids such as walkers or wheelchairs must be able to move about without barriers in a building.

When establishing or making substantial changes to food premises, report to Environmental health four weeks before the start of operations or the planned change.  

The notification must also be made in connection with a change of operator. The obligation of notification also applies to mobile food premises. 

The food business operator shall inform the supervisory authorities of the municipalities on whose territory the mobile food premises operate about the sale and other handling of the food. The information must reach the authority no later than four working days prior to the commencement of the notified activity. A report on seasonal activities (e.g. regular market sales) must be submitted every year. 

After notifying the supervisory authority, the operator may operate in the (external) sales area. The area must be suitable for the activity in question.  

The Environmental health authorities of the Jyväskylä region supervise the manufacturing, storage, transport, import, export, sale, marketing, handling and serving of food in its area. An essential element of supervision is the provision of advice and guidance to consumers and actors. 

The purpose of food control is to: 

A healthy and safe living environment is of great importance to a person’s health and well-being. The Environmental health authorities monitor living environments and aim to reduce, eliminate and prevent environmental health risks.  

Environmental health includes the monitoring of health protection, food, the tobacco law and animal health and welfare, as well as veterinary services.  

The collaborative area of environmental health in the Jyväskylä region includes: