How does Finland deal with homelessness?

Finland is the only European Union country where homelessness is currently falling. The country has adopted a Housing First policy, whereby social services assign homeless individuals rental homes first, and issues like mental health and substance abuse are treated second.

Which country has the best homeless policy?

Finland
Now, Finland has become the first country to adopt a national housing first approach to homelessness. Juha Kaakinen, CEO of Finland’s largest housing nonprofit, the Y-Foundation, has been working in the area of homelessness and social welfare since the 1980s.

What is Finland Housing First policy?

It is currently the only country in Europe where homelessness is on the decline, thanks to a policy called ‘Housing First’. The idea is simple: everyone is entitled to somewhere to live, even people with complex psychosocial, health and financial issues such as addiction or poor credit ratings.

What is the homeless rate in Finland?

There were 4 341 homeless people living alone in Finland at the end of the year 2020. The number of homeless families and couples was 201. There also was 1 054 long-term homeless and 854 homeless people under the age of 25.

Does Finland have homelessness?

Around 4 341 people are homeless in Finland at the moment (ARA 2021). The numbers have gone down from around 20 000 homeless in the 1980’s. Huge progress has been made by using the Housing First model.

Has Finland ended homelessness?

In 1987, Finland had a homeless population of about 20,000 and it became clear that temporary shelters weren’t a solution. They overhauled the system. Since then, Finland’s rate has plummeted to 4,300 single homeless people and an estimated 200 couples or families that are homeless.

Which country has the most homeless people?

There are 18 million street children in India, the largest number of any country in the world, with 11 million being urban. Finally, more than three million men and women are homeless in India’s capital city of New Delhi; the same population in Canada would make up approximately 30 electoral districts.)

How did Finland abolish homelessness?

The policy applied in Finland is called “HousingFirst”. It reverses conventional homeless aid. More commonly, those affected are expected to look for a job and free themselves from their psychological problems or addictions. Only then they get help in finding accommodation.

Why are there no homeless in Finland?

In Finland, the number of homeless people has fallen sharply. The reason: The country applies the “Housing First” concept. Those affected by homelessness receive a small apartment and counselling – without any preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected thus make their way back into a stable life.

Is homelessness illegal in Finland?

The information in these reports was gathered from as many sources as available at the time they were prepared with publically available information only; some sections are incomplete due to the inaccessibility of the required data or lack thereof. Currently homelessness is not a criminal offence in Finland.