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A few facts about Sólheimar:
Sólheimar was established July 5th 1930.
The founder was Sesselja Hreindís Sigmundsdóttir (1902-1974).
The Sólheimar farmland is 250 hectares in size, thereof 37 hectares at the community’s buildings and residential areas.
About 150 hectares are used for forestry purposes.
Population:
About 100 persons reside at the Sólheimar community, thereof 42 persons living with disabilities.
10-15 persons reside outside of the Sólheimar community, however, work there, and a few persons live at Sólheimar but do not work.
Management:
Sólheimar is registered as an independent entity engaging in industrial activity.
Sólheimar has a Council of Representatives consisting of 17 persons.
Every council member’s term is four years and he or she may be re-elected.
From amongst the council members an Executive Board of five is elected for a one-year term.
Pétur Sveinbjarnarson has been the Chairman of the Executive Board of Sólheimar from 1984 and served as its Vice Chairman from 1979.
A special fund, the Sólheimar Trust, owns the residential buildings at Sólheimar and is responsible for their operation.
Collaboration:
The Ministry of Social Affairs pays for the service for 42 persons with disabilities.
The Ministry of the Environment supports the activities of Sesselja House as an environmental center with a contribution.
The State Prison Administration pays for the service for two to three prisoners.
The Directorate of Labor makes of contribution because of two to three unemployed persons.
Sólheimar also collaborates with other parties, including
Bergmál, a society organizing vacation visits for cancer patients and long-term patients. Bergmál is currently building vacation cottages at Sólheimar for 27 persons.
Foreign volunteer organizations. About 10 groups of volunteers come to Sólheimar every year to work. Most of them stay here for a week or two.
Residence people with disabilities:
- 26 persons reside in independent residences.
Single apartments, 53-70 square meters in size.
Apartments for couples, 60-70 square meters in size.
- 6 persons reside in the senior-citizens facility (will be 10 in 2009).
Plans to close down one joint residential facility.
The first single-family house for persons with disabilities in co-habitation has been taken into use.
Working facilities:
The working facilities may be divided into two categories:
The workshops:
Six workshops are operated by Sólheimar for habilitation purposes.
The Carpentry Workshop.
The Candle Workshop.
The Pottery Workshop.
The Weaving Workshop.
The Herbal Workshop.
A bread-making facility will be added in 2008.
Undertakings:
There are four undertakings at and owned by Sólheimar, each an independent operating unit.
The gardening entity, Sunna: annual production of vegetables is 18 tons.
The forestry entity, Ölur: annual production 400,000 plants (trees).
The shop, Vala.
The Brekkukot Guesthouse and the Graena kannan Coffee Shop.
Social activities:
In addition to the variety of social activities at Sólheimar, there are three societies:
The Sólheimar Drama Society.
The Gnýr Sports Club.
The Sólheimar Scouts Society.
Popular venue for tourists:
Over the last years, Sólheimar has become a popular tourist venue. In 2006 Sólheimar received the Environmental Prize of the Iceland Tourist Council.
Every year, Sólheimar is visited by some 30,000-35,000 guests, primarily during the summer months (May through September).
Commonly visiting groups of tourists receive guided tours of the Sólheimar community (2-3 hours).
During the summer months of June through August, Sólheimar hosts a cultural season offering an extensive cultural program of exhibitions, concerts, church service, etc.
During November and December, Sólheimar has a special advent program. | 
