Over a lifetime people face various kinds of problems, small and large. If you ever find that you need help, simple advice, or fear for the safety of yourself or your family there are places to seek help. The following is a list and description of the places that are available for help and support:

Alþjóðahús – Hverfisgata 18, www.ahus.is, 530 9300

At Alþjóðahús it is possible to receive information and advice regarding all aspects of Icelandic society. There is an advisor available Monday thru Friday. You can also turn to Ahus if you need legal advice. Appointments are necessary for the lawyer. If you need and interpreter one will be provided free of charge.

    The pastor for immigrants and their families, from the National Church, Toshiki Toma, has regular interview hours at Alþjóðahus. Those who want general advice on family or personal problems, want counselling or just need someone to talk to, can meet with him free of charge. The pastor is working in the role of a general counsellor in cooperation with Alþjóðahus and not as a Christian missionary. Therefore everyone can take advantage of this service irrespective of religious or cultural background. Toshiki meets with people on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 14:00 – 16:00. It is advisable to call for an appointment, 865 6562 or send an e-mail to Toshiki at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Neighbourhood Services in Reykjavík/Þjónustumiðstöðvar í Reykjavík
 

Social help and assistance, family services, playschool services, primary school specialists, and representatives from the Reykjavik Sports and Leisure Council are all located in the same neighbourhood service centres.  The aim of each centre is to be a hub for all activities within the neighbourhood. When moving to a new neighbourhood it is a good idea to visit your local centre to find out what is going on in your new neighbourhood. The centres are not obligated by law to provide an interpreter but they usually do. If you need an interpreter be sure and ask for one. All staff members are bound to codes of confidentiality. So if you need help, information or advice about any of the following you should contact your local centre or þjónustumiðstöð.
 

• Financial difficulties

• Housing problems

• Rent subsidies

• Divorce

• Alcohol and drug problems

• Unemployment

• Sickness and disability

• Marital problems

• Difficulty bringing up children and teens

• Home help services

• Finding services for the elderly

• Playschools or Primary schools

• After school programs

• Day-care Special education or anything concerning special attention in primary school.

There are 6 service centres in Reykjavik:

Þjónustumiðstöð Vesturbæjar, Vesturgarður 

Hjarðarhaga 45-47 tel.:411 1700  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Þjónustumiðstöð Miðborgar of Hlíða

Skúlagata 21 tel.:411 1600  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Þjónustumiðstöð Laugardals of Háaleitis

Síðumúla 39 tel.:411 1500 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Þjónustumiðstöð Grafarvogs og Kjalarness

Langarima 21 tel.:411 1400  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Þjónustumiðstöð Breiðholts

Álfabakka 12 tel.:411 1300 This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Þjónustumiðstöð Árbæjar

Bæjarhálsi 1 tel.:411 1200  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

The service centres are open weekdays from 08:20-16:15, except Árbæ, which is closed at 16:00.

Note: Accepting financial help from social services can have an effect on your right to residence permits. Be sure and ask the social worker about this or contact The Intercultural Center for more details.

For social help outside of Reykjavík:
 

• Kópavogur Social Services (Félagsþjónustan í Kópavogi) - Fannborg 4, 570 1400. www.kopavogur.is 

• Vensl, Family Services in Kopavogur (Vensl fjölskyldurráðgjöf Kópavogs), Dalbrekka 2, 554 2907.

• Social Services in Seltjarnarnes (Félagsþjónusta Seltjarnarness), located in Mýrarhús School on Nesvegur, 595 9100.

• Social Services in Hafnarfjörður (Félagsþjónustan í Hafnarfirði), Strandgata 33, 585 5700. • Efling Family Services (Fjölskyldumeðferðin), Strandgötu 33 Hafnarfjörður, 585 5740

• All municipalities have their own Social Service office.

The Family Centre (Fjölskldumiðstöð) – This center provides professional advice for families with children and teenagers. Some of the problems they deal with are drugs & alcohol problems, problems in school, and problems with relationships and communicating with people. Help is in the form of group counseling, counseling for parents, counseling for children, and treatment. Located at Háaleitisbraut 13, 3rd floor, in the same building as Sjónarholl. Telephone: 511 1599. www.barnivanda.is 

Lausn Family Services (Fjölskylduþjónustan Lausn) – Located at Sólvallagata 10 Lausn offers solution-oriented treatment and programs. They offer family therapy, support and advice, counseling and education in family and personal matters. Their goal is to make family life better. Lausn can help with communication problems, behavior problems, drugs, divorce, parental visitation problems, and stepfamily problems just to mention a few. This service is offered by Félagsþjónustan í Reykjavík, and is intended for residents of Reykjavík. This service is free. To make an appointment or to get more information call 552 5881, Monday – Fridays, between 11:00 & 12:00.

The Child Protection Agency (Barnaverndarnefnd) - Iceland is a participating member of this agreement. The aim of Barnaverndarnefnd is to ensure that children living in unsatisfactory conditions get the assistance they need. This is done by supporting parents in their parenting role and offering help when needed. If the agency receives a complaint it must be investigated within 7 days. Parents are always notified and emphasis is placed on protecting the rights of both the parents and the child. If necessary the agency may intervene and a plan of action may be set in place.

• Reykjavík Child Protection Agency (Barnavernd Reykjavíkur) – Skipholt 50b, Reykjavik, during office hour’s 535 2600, after hour’s emergencies 892 7821.

 • Seltjarnarnes Social Services – 595 9100/9130

• Kópavogur Child Protection Department of Social Services – Fannborg 4, during office hours 570 1400, after hours emergencies 862 5975.

• Hafnafjörður Child Protection Department of Social Services – Strandgata 33, during office hours 585 5700, after hours emergencies 664 5700.

In article 19 of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child it states that, “State parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child. Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programs to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.”

The Children's House (Barnahús) – Barnahús is a centre for protecting children from sexual abuse. Barnahús serves all of Iceland and is a child-friendly, interdisciplinary and multi-agency centre whereby different professionals work under one roof in the investigation of child sexual abuse cases. It is the result of a partnership, between the state police, the state prosecutors office, The University Hospital and the Government Agency for Child Protection. The basic concept of the centre is to prevent subjecting the child to repeated interviews by many agencies in different locations. Cases are referred to Barnahús through Barnaverndarnefnd. (See information above.)

Save the Children (Barnaheill) – Save the Children is an independent organization and has about 11,000 members, and is a member of the Save the Children Alliance, an international organization whose aim is to protect the rights of children. Barnaheill helps children in need, both abroad and in Iceland, and is financed by membership fees, donations and fund-raising activities. They provide councelling over their phone; 553-5900

Save the Children Iceland operates an advice center on its website, www.barnaheill.is which includes a form which members of the public can fill out if they encounter child pornography on the Internet. 3 Save the Children Iceland owns two apartments in Reykjavik for the use of families of children from rural Iceland receiving medical care in the capital. Both have been fully booked since they opened.

Home Finances Counseling Office (Ráðgjafarstofa um fjármál heimilanna)– Offers free counseling for people in debt who are having difficulties meeting their financial commitments. They give advice, help people gain financial perspective, suggest payment plans, and negotiate with creditors. To make an appointment call 551 4485 on Wednesdays. For advice over the phone call between 9:00 – 12:00. For those that just need information call during phone hours, weekdays between 9:00 – 12:00.

The Women's Shelter (Kvennaathvarf) – Many women are victims of violence in their own homes. Violence can take many forms and be both physical and emotional. Many women live with violence without realizing this. Women who have been victims of domestic violence, either emotionally, physically or sexually, can seek refuge at the Women’s Shelter for themselves and their children. They can come at any time and stay for 3-4 weeks. In special circumstances their stay can be prolonged. The location of the Women’s Shelter is kept secret, but women can get the address when they call the shelter (tel.:561 1205). Police assistance can be given on site at the Shelter if the women wish. The Women’s Shelter offers:
 

• A place to stay and the possibility to help oneself.

• Total confidentiality and secrecy.

• The opportunity to interact with women that have similar experiences.

• Schooling and activities for children who cannot attend their own school.

• Personal interviews and counseling for women outside of the shelter.

• elephone counseling, open 24 hours a day. Tel.: 561 1205.

The Other House (Hitt Húsið) – Located at Pósthússtræti 3-5. 520 4600, www.hitthusid.is Hitt husið is a cultural and information centre for young people between the ages of 16 & 25. The Youth and Sport Council of Reykjavík (ÍTR) runs it. Among some of their many goals are to give young people a place to work on their ideas and assist them in realizing them and to reflect what is most prominent in youth culture. Some of the services and programs offered by Hitt Husið are councelling, information, free internet access, student job centre, peer education, young parents' club, etc.

Stígamót – Stígamót is a counseling and information centre for victims of sexual violence. The centre offers counseling, support, information on judicial and social rights, self-help groups, open house and booklets with all sorts of information about sexual abuse. Stígamót also has a hotline for women employed in the “sex business”, 800 5353. Stígamót is located at Hverfisgata 115 and is open weekdays from 09:00-19:00. Their phone number is 562 6868 or 800 6868. Of course all calls or inquiries are kept confidential. www.stigamot.is 

The Women’s Advice Centre (Kvennaráðgjöfin) – Kvennaráðgjöf offers free legal and social advice to women. The centre is open on Tuesday evenings from 20:00-22:00 and on Thursday afternoons from 14:00-16:00. Located on Túngata 14, 552 1500.

Mæðrastyrksnefnd – Services for mothers who are having a hard time making ends meet. They offer support and advice, clothing, baby supplies and food. Their office is on Sólvallagata 48 and is open on Wednesdays from 14:00-17:00.

The Red Cross Clothing Distribution Centre – Clothing is distributed to those in need on all Wednesdays between 9:00 and 14:00 at the Fataflokkunarstöð of the Red Cross located at Akralind 4, Kópavogur. Tel.:587 0900.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA Samtökin á Íslandi) – Alcoholics anonymous has regular meetings on all days of the week, day and night. There are also meetings for those that do not speak Icelandic, such as Polish meetings and English meetings. For more information call 551 2010. The main office is located at Tjarnagata 20, 101 Reykjavik, but there are meetings all over the capital area and the countryside. www.aa.is