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Summer 2010
Homelessness and migration in Europe: finding responses

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You are here: Home page > FEANTSA's Members > Finland

Finland

Perhaps the most concerted and successful effort to deal with homelessness is in Finland where, after the International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in 1987, the Government devised a multifaceted response to the problem. It included building of social housing, the creation of social welfare and health care services, and setting a target to provide a dwelling of minimum standards for every homeless person. The number of single homeless persons at that time was approximately 18 000. In just 10 years, the number of homeless in Finland was cut in half.

Over 60 per cent of households in Finland live in owner-occupied dwellings. The average housing costs are quite high; this means that low-income groups have difficulties to afford housing which would meet their requirements.

One obvious cause of the high housing costs is that housing production and housing policy are basically dependent on the market. The share of social rental housing is small, only some 15 per cent of the housing stock. Contrary to many other sectors of the welfare society, housing provision mainly relies on the free market. Single persons in particular encounter difficulties in finding reasonably priced rental dwellings.

A new plan to reduce homelessness, proposed in the housing strategy, was presented in February 2001 to the Minister of Housing. It suggested that homelessness would be best reduced through common housing policy measures, but it suggests a number of other measures to reduce homelessness. On the basis of the program the cities in the capital region have signed a contract by which they have decided to increase the supply of dwellings for homeless persons. However, the measures have not been well implemented. The shortages of rental dwellings as well as the shortage of land available for housing production are the main hindrances, especially in Helsinki City.

New kinds of measures are required, too. Homelessness itself is changing. Drug problems are increasing rapidly in Finland. Homelessness becomes more hidden; young homeless persons are not willing to come to shelters. New kinds special support measures are needed. Organisations that have special knowledge on this kind of work, are taking part in the carrying out a programme for reducing homelessness.

According to the figures presented by the municipalities in the yearly housing market survey for the Housing Fund of Finland, there were around 10 000 single homeless persons and about 800 homeless families or other households with more than one person in November 2001.

More than half of the homeless people are in capital region. Numbers or estimates of the extent of homelessness have been gathered on the same basis by the housing authorities since 1986, which means that the development can have been followed up.

Each year, a Finnish member of FEANTSA, No Fixed Abode (V.V.A.) organises a ‘Night for the Homeless’ in several cities and towns across Finland, which usually takes place on 17 October, also the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. More and more organisations working with the homeless from Finland and other European countries (Czech Republic, Estonia, Sweden, Romania) are participating. The aim is to raise public awareness about the situation of the homeless in Finland as well as across Europe.

	Improving life chances for children in poverty: lessons from across Europe [5/28/2010] The European Cities Against Child Poverty Network undertook a two-year project addressing the causes of child poverty in European cities through sharing practical experience. » Details

	Peer Reviews on Homelessness in Finland and Portugal [5/28/2010] Two peer reviews on homelessness will take place in 2010. » Details

	Peer Reviews on Homelessness [4/29/2010] As part of the European programme of peer reviews in social protection and social exclusion, two peer reviews on homelessness will be held in 2010. » Details

	» More News

	[01/2006] 2005 Report on Social Emergency in Finland
	» Document available in the following languages :

	[07/2004] Finland : national report on prevention Response to questionnaire on prevention of homelessness, FEANTSA's annual theme 2004
	» Document available in the following languages :

	[10/2003] Finland : Networking to Fight Homelessness
	» Document available in the following languages :

	[06/2007] Finland: Employment and homelessness - National Report 2007
	» Document available in the following languages :

	[08/2006] Finnish National Report for FEANTSA's Annual theme 2006
	» Document available in the following languages :

	Finland: Employment and homelessness - National Report 2007 [6/13/2007]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	Finnish National Report for FEANTSA's Annual theme 2006 [8/14/2006]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	2005 Report on Social Emergency in Finland [1/20/2006]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	» More Reports

	Statistics Update [Finland] [2005]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	Policy Update 2005 [2005]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	Research Update [2004]
	» Document available in the following languages :

	» More Research