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Finland Is Successfully Fighting Homelessness, Which Is Now Reduced To 0.08% By Giving Homes For Those Who Need It
Losing a place to live is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person. Unfortunately, it is estimated that no less than 150 million people or 2 percent of the world’s population is homeless. It’s a problem both in developed and developing countries, but some are doing better than others.
For example, Finland adopted a Housing First policy and now it is the only country in the European Union where homelessness is declining. Since 2008, when the policy was adopted, long-term homelessness decreased about 40 percent and there were 4 341 people who were reported homeless at the end of 2020. For context, Finland has a population of 5.5 million, so that would mean that only 0.08 percent of the population is homeless.
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Finland is the only country in the EU where homelessness is decreasing
Image credits: Pedro Ribeiro Simões
Before 2008, the Finnish government tried to tackle the homelessness problem, but it wasn’t working that well. Short-term shelters were built, but that didn’t help with long-term homelessness. There were still about 8,000 homeless people. They couldn’t find jobs because they needed a permanent residence, but they couldn’t afford to pay for rent because they didn’t have jobs and weren’t earning money, so it was really a vicious circle.
The situation was so bad that there were tent villages in the middle of the capital city. When data on homelessness was first collected in 1987, there were nearly 18,000 people without homes. The current Government has committed to halving homelessness by 2023 and ending it entirely by 2027.
The percentage of homeless people is so low that some people go as far as to say that the country ended it
Image credits: WereChickenAU
Image credits: GoodPoliticGuy
What is the secret, you may ask? Well, in 2008, the Finnish government decided that they have to take a different approach and simply just give people a place to live. No matter how a person became homeless, they are given a home and support so they would be able to stay there.
There are no requirements or goals a person has to meet to stay there. They don’t have to get sober or get a job to get accommodation. The idea behind Housing First is that to tackle the issues a person may have that put them at risk of homelessness, they need stable housing. For example, they can’t conquer their addictions if they’re kicked out from a shelter in the morning.
The number of homeless people went from 19,000 in 1987 to 4341 in 2020 in Finland
Image credits: Eric Fischer
The problem is being solved by giving homeless people a home and providing them with a support system to help them get back on their feet
Image credits: Y-Foundation
But those people are not left alone either: they are supported in rebuilding their relationships with friends and families, and establishing new ones. Many of them have mental and medical conditions that need care, and some of them may not have education or skills that would be useful for jobs or just everyday—the Housing First program includes support in all of that. Because of this support system, 4 out of 5 people affected make their way back into a stable life.
4 out of 5 people get back to living a normal life
Image credits: Mundus Gregorius
Image credits: Timo Newton-Syms
To make all this happen, Finland had to invest a lot of money, because obviously, they needed houses in which to place the homeless people. So flats were bought from the private market, new buildings were built, and old buildings were repurposed and renewed. Evidence shows that these investments pay off and it’s cheaper to not have homeless people by giving them somewhere to live, not to mention that it’s the right thing to do.
But Housing First has to be nationwide to work, not just individual projects. Also, they have to be affordable, and staff to help those people who have been living a different lifestyle should be hired and trained.
People on Twitter were praising Finland for such an achievement, but there were a lot of opinions that it wouldn’t be possible in other countries
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What do you think ?
Emma London 4 years ago
Please note that homelessness is a social issue here in Finland, not a "I can't afford rent because I'm sick and unemployed" -problem. Social security is already good enough for a sparse living and you'll be offered a municipality owned, rent controlled flat if you can't secure one normally. Homelessness is then mostly a result of alcoholism, drug problems, gambling or mental dysfunctions, or they are denied asylum seekers who now reside in the country illegally.
judy baker 4 years ago
Sadly homeless people are too often treated like they're less than human here in the U.S. Thank you to those that help others in need.
Ed Marineves 4 years ago
The Puritan basis of the US leans heavily on punishing "sinners". It's not enough to live a good life, you have to wreak punishment on others who live differently. So a huge portion of Americans are more focused on insuring people who have casual sex suffer for their looseness, that people who do not work do not eat, that people who are different are punished for their non-conformity. It's the Puritan Way.
soni w 4 years ago
Too right. If American people banded together to tackle homelessness the same way they do abortion, there wouldn't be a homelessness issue in America.
Load More Replies...
Eric S. 4 years ago
The problem exploded in the US when Reagan essentially kicked people with mental health issues to the curb. Add to that drug addiction, and now people losing their jobs and houses because of COVID, and the situation is now past the breaking point. Have we lost all humanity?
Friday 4 years ago (edited)
4 out of 5 people making their way back to a stable lifestyle is an incredible result. I don’t have any answers or suggestions of how to deal with homelessness in other Western countries, so I’ll just say well done to the people of Finland. I’m sure those who have been assisted will be forever greatful.
Electric Ed 4 years ago
Are you implying Finland is not "a Western country"? Or why do you think the proposed answer and solution would not work in other Western (or any, for that matter) countries too?
Load More Replies...
Michael Beswick 4 years ago
The number of homeless people depend on your definition of homeless. In the UK people living at shelters, hostels and temporary accommodation count as homeless; about 280,000 out of a population of 70 million. Most of those people are unemployed and claim some sort of benefits. About 10,000 people here are sleeping rough. It's hard for people to understand, but many people that sleep rough choose to for many different reasons, such as mental health issues or substance addiction. As healthcare here is a public service everyone is entitled to the same standard of care, including the homeless.
King Joffrey 4 years ago
I also live in the UK and have always disagreed with our definition of homelessness. To me, a homeless person is someone with no access to a roof over their heads, as much as living in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing is not great, it is just not the same as being out on the streets.
Load More Replies...
Carol Emory 4 years ago
When America is such that, not only is homelessness increasing, but anyone setting up a table in a park to feed homeless people can be arrested and/or fined for violating the law...the problem is much worse. Also consider that American Public parks are now being overrun with a different kind of homeless person...the Heroine Addict. Mental health issues also plague many of the homeless...but until with have UHC, it will never be addressed.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
UHC won't cure the "let them die" mentality that US authorities have shown over the decades when it comes to people who need help. Build homes for the homeless? No, instead let's spend millions on measures to make life as difficult as possible for homeless people. Are you homeless and living out of your car? Fine, but we'll order the police to actively hunt you down and harass you. Returned from a useless war with PTSD? Thank you for your service, and we're sure you'll find a way to deal with your PTSD. Just don't count on us.
Load More Replies...
Cathelijne Van 4 years ago
Funny, I would think it's a very Christian thing to do too...
Load More Replies...
Emma London 4 years ago
Please note that homelessness is a social issue here in Finland, not a "I can't afford rent because I'm sick and unemployed" -problem. Social security is already good enough for a sparse living and you'll be offered a municipality owned, rent controlled flat if you can't secure one normally. Homelessness is then mostly a result of alcoholism, drug problems, gambling or mental dysfunctions, or they are denied asylum seekers who now reside in the country illegally.
judy baker 4 years ago
Sadly homeless people are too often treated like they're less than human here in the U.S. Thank you to those that help others in need.
Ed Marineves 4 years ago
The Puritan basis of the US leans heavily on punishing "sinners". It's not enough to live a good life, you have to wreak punishment on others who live differently. So a huge portion of Americans are more focused on insuring people who have casual sex suffer for their looseness, that people who do not work do not eat, that people who are different are punished for their non-conformity. It's the Puritan Way.
soni w 4 years ago
Too right. If American people banded together to tackle homelessness the same way they do abortion, there wouldn't be a homelessness issue in America.
Load More Replies... Eric S. 4 years ago
The problem exploded in the US when Reagan essentially kicked people with mental health issues to the curb. Add to that drug addiction, and now people losing their jobs and houses because of COVID, and the situation is now past the breaking point. Have we lost all humanity?
Friday 4 years ago (edited)
4 out of 5 people making their way back to a stable lifestyle is an incredible result. I don’t have any answers or suggestions of how to deal with homelessness in other Western countries, so I’ll just say well done to the people of Finland. I’m sure those who have been assisted will be forever greatful.
Electric Ed 4 years ago
Are you implying Finland is not "a Western country"? Or why do you think the proposed answer and solution would not work in other Western (or any, for that matter) countries too?
Load More Replies... Michael Beswick 4 years ago
The number of homeless people depend on your definition of homeless. In the UK people living at shelters, hostels and temporary accommodation count as homeless; about 280,000 out of a population of 70 million. Most of those people are unemployed and claim some sort of benefits. About 10,000 people here are sleeping rough. It's hard for people to understand, but many people that sleep rough choose to for many different reasons, such as mental health issues or substance addiction. As healthcare here is a public service everyone is entitled to the same standard of care, including the homeless.
King Joffrey 4 years ago
I also live in the UK and have always disagreed with our definition of homelessness. To me, a homeless person is someone with no access to a roof over their heads, as much as living in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing is not great, it is just not the same as being out on the streets.
Load More Replies... Carol Emory 4 years ago
When America is such that, not only is homelessness increasing, but anyone setting up a table in a park to feed homeless people can be arrested and/or fined for violating the law...the problem is much worse. Also consider that American Public parks are now being overrun with a different kind of homeless person...the Heroine Addict. Mental health issues also plague many of the homeless...but until with have UHC, it will never be addressed.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
UHC won't cure the "let them die" mentality that US authorities have shown over the decades when it comes to people who need help. Build homes for the homeless? No, instead let's spend millions on measures to make life as difficult as possible for homeless people. Are you homeless and living out of your car? Fine, but we'll order the police to actively hunt you down and harass you. Returned from a useless war with PTSD? Thank you for your service, and we're sure you'll find a way to deal with your PTSD. Just don't count on us.
Load More Replies... Cathelijne Van 4 years ago
Funny, I would think it's a very Christian thing to do too...
Load More Replies...
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