Finland’s count of just 3,600 homeless individuals sets it apart as the sole European Union member state on the verge of completely eradicating homelessness.
In the 1980s, amid a severe economic crisis, Finland faced its first surge of homeless individuals. Approximately 20,000 Finns found themselves without shelter, resorting to desperate measures like seeking refuge inside garbage bins during the harsh winter months to stave off freezing temperatures.
Since 2007, Finland has implemented the “Housing First” program, originally introduced by the conservative government. This program has led to the establishment or procurement of more than 8,000 apartments for homeless individuals.
The country’s goal is to eliminate long-term homelessness by 2027, while Helsinki aims to do the same by 2025.
During the tenure of former Prime Minister Sanna Marin, homelessness witnessed a remarkable decline of 40% from 2019 to 2022. The pursuit of eradicating homelessness is a unifying goal transcending political divisions across successive governments.
The state estimates that the program saved approximately 34 million euros, primarily in health costs. However, reports from Spiegel suggest that the program is facing challenges from the current right-wing coalition government, which includes participation from the far-right, advocating for austerity measures. While Prime Minister Marin’s objective of ending homelessness by 2027 appears to be at risk of falling short, and subsidies for affordable housing have been reduced, Finland maintains its commitment to eliminating long-term homelessness by 2027, with Helsinki leading the charge to achieve this goal by 2025.
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