Homelessness in Finland explained

Homelessness in Finland affected 4,396 people at the end of 2021.[1] Long-term homelessness affected 1,318 people.[1]

Finland and Denmark are the only European Union countries where homelessness is currently falling.[2] 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.[3] [4] Since its launch in 2008, the number of homeless people in Finland has decreased by roughly 30%, and the number of long-term homeless people has fallen by more than 35%.[2] "Sleeping rough", the practice of sleeping outside, has been largely eradicated in Helsinki, where only one 50-bed night shelter remains.[2]

The Constitution of Finland mandates that public authorities "promote the right of everyone to housing".[5] In addition, the constitution grants Finnish citizens "the right to receive indispensable subsistence and care", if needed.[5]

Since 2002, the Night of the Homeless event has been hosted throughout the country.[6] The events include demonstrations, food distribution, and movie screenings, among other activities.[7]

Statistics

Since 1987, the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (Finnish: Asumisen rahoitus- ja kehittämiskeskus; ARA) has been publishing annual statistics related to homelessness. The figures are collected independently by the municipalities of Finland, leading to minor inconsistencies in reporting. ARA publishes data on homeless families and homeless people living alone separately.

The majority of homeless people reside in larger cities, notably in the capital region. Over 60 percent of Finland's homeless population resides in the Greater Helsinki area.[4] Homelessness disproportionately affects men, although this gap has been reduced due to recent efforts. Roughly three out of four homeless individuals are male.

Some key figures for homeless people in Finland (2019) include the following:

Notes and References

  1. Asunnottomat 2021. The Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA). 2022-04-12. PDF. 2022-02-25. Finnish.
  2. Web site: almost 1 million people across Europe are homeless on any given night . Henley. Jon. The Guardian. 5 September 2023. 2023-09-07.
  3. Web site: American Idea Inspires Finland to Slash Homelessness by 40%. Pohjanpalo. Kati. Bloomberg News. 19 July 2019. 13 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Housing First in Finland. Y-Foundation. ysaatio.fi. 13 April 2020.
  5. Web site: The Constitution of Finland. finlex.fi. Ministry of Justice, Finland. 13 April 2020.
  6. Web site: In English - Asunnottomien yö -kansalaisliike. asunnottomienyo.fi/. 13 April 2020.
  7. Web site: Night of the Homeless highlights women. Yle. 17 October 2019. 13 April 2020.