How Finland Became the Only European Country to Reduce Homelessness

About a decade ago, a project called Housing First started operating in Finland. Housing First approaches homelessness from a simple point of view: everyone has a right to a home, even those burdened with difficult issues. According to Housing First, “housing is a basic need, which is not bound to health or lifestyle”.
Before the project, affordable housing authorities generally demanded that homeless housing seekers should shape up their lives and address personal problems before a home could be granted to them.
In contrast, the Housing First policy emphasises that once a person has a home, they are better able to seek out help and support in solving other problems in life.
“Providing permanent homes for the homeless should be a target instead of temporary solutions. There is no quick fix to all life situations but a solid base provides the foundations upon which to improve the welfare of the homeless. The first step in change is the change in attitudes,” Juha Kaakinen, chief executive of the Y-Foundation, which provides low-cost flats to homeless people in Finland, told The Guardian.
The Housing First project operates across Finland, and over the past 10 years, the group oversaw the conversion of homeless shelters into low-cost rental apartments. They also assisted Finnish municipalities to plan affordable housing solutions.
Feantsa, the European homeless network, noted in a report that Finland’s policy on housing “attempts to make provision for every type of homelessness. There is as much emphasis on homelessness caused by low income and debt – and nothing else – as there is on homelessness associated with being a former offender, or homelessness associated with a mix of complex drug, alcohol and mental health.”
Finland’s commitment to providing housing has helped the country become the only EU state that has managed to cut the number of homeless people. Thirty years ago there were about 18,000 homeless people in Finland – today there are about 6,500. Between 2009-2016 Finland saw its homeless population drop by some 18%, according to Feantsa’s report on homelessness.

During the same period, most EU countries have seen homelessness increase, often exponentially, Finland’s national broadcaster YLE reported. In England, the number of homeless people rose by more than 150% between the years of 2009-2016. In Ireland, the numbers are even more drastic. Between 2014 and 2017, there was a 145% increase in the number of homeless people, a 286% increase in the number of homeless families, and an increase of 276% in the number of homeless children, according to Feantsa’s figures.
Dr O’Sullivan, who is a professor of social policy at Trinity College Dublin, told the Australian new organisation abc.net.au that while homelessness has been a growing problem in many Western nations, Finland investigated the issue of homelessness and decided “it’s not that complex”.
Dr O’ Sullivan pointed out that because Finland has built 6,000 units specifically for homeless people between 2008 and 2015, these permanent homes have reduced Finland’s need for crisis accommodation.
“In Dublin, where I’m from, back in 2008 we had about 600 emergency shelter beds in Dublin, they had the same in Helsinki in Finland. Today we have about 2,200 emergency beds; in Finland they have 54.”
Feantsa’s strategy review concluded that “while Finland does not have uniquely low levels of homelessness, it is clear that a great deal has been achieved in a short space of time”.