09/09/2024
Being without a home or address shouldn’t be the end all if our leaders re-focus their priorities to the humane side instead of the ‘machine’ needs.
In 1987, Finland had 18,000 people without homes. By 2018, the number had dropped to 5,482, with more than 60% living in the Helsinki area. Homelessness is caused by many factors, and the cold weather in Finland makes it even harder for people living outside. Not having a permanent address also makes it difficult to find jobs and access social services. People without homes often stay in temporary shelters and keep moving around without a permanent solution.
Finland’s "Housing First" policy has been very successful in reducing homelessness. From 2008 to 2022, the number of people who were long-term homeless dropped by 68%. Research shows that 80% of people in the program found housing. In 2008, Helsinki had nearly 600 shelter beds, but by 2019, it had only one emergency center with 52 beds. In ten years, Finland provided 4,600 homes, and by 2017, there was enough shelter for everyone.
