The City Council will discuss the needs assessment for a family house at its meeting.

13.5.2026 News Education and training Town government Preschool education Service network Decision making Program for a stable economy Early childhood education

Three children playing with blocks on the kindergarten floor. — Photo: Jenniina Nummela

The City Council will discuss the needs assessment for a family house and the launch of project planning for a new building to be located in Peltosaari at its meeting on Monday, May 18, 2026. The needs assessment examined options in which open early childhood education, youth services, a meeting place for the elderly, and possibly a daycare center would be located in connection with the family house.

The budget investment plan estimates the project's initial cost at approximately 6–7 million euros. The costs will be specified during the project planning phase. In the 10-year investment plan of the City of Riihimäki, the implementation of the family house as a new building is targeted for 2029–2030. In addition, money has been reserved for the design for 2027.

The needs assessment has examined four options in which services for youth and seniors, to varying extents, and a daycare center would be located in connection with the family house. Further planning would examine options in which a family house and services for youth and seniors would be located in a new building, either with or without a daycare center.

In the daycare alternative, a new building would replace the existing daycare facilities in accordance with the service network decisions. Approval of the project plan requires a council-level decision on the service network solutions. The City Board will discuss the project group's proposal for the early childhood education and basic education service network at its meeting on 18 May 2026, after which the matter will proceed to the City Council for a decision.

According to the needs assessment, the family house's operations require multi-purpose, barrier-free and easily accessible facilities. The facilities must be open common spaces for children and families. In addition, smaller rooms are needed for group and guidance activities. The suitability of the current facilities for the needs of the operations has also been examined.

The starting point of the family housing survey has been the future of open early childhood education and the development of activities that promote well-being in Riihimäki. The Aapeli open daycare center in Riihimäki currently offers open early childhood education for families with children, but the current facilities do not allow for the development of the activities and are not accessible.

What is a family house?

The Family House is an open and accessible meeting place for children, young people and families. The aim of the Family House is to strengthen community, provide peer support and well-being, and offer the opportunity to participate in supervised and informal activities.

In the family house, city services, welfare area operators, organizations and other partners could work together with city residents. The aim of the activities is to offer preventive support and, if necessary, guidance to the services.

The family home is planned to include open early childhood education, youth services, a meeting place for the elderly, and activities of partners. The activities would be free of charge, alcohol-free, and open to all city residents.