‘Housing First’ Gets Finland’s Homeless off the Streets Faster

Finland is the only country in the European Union to see a drop in homelessness, for one key reason: it applies the ‘Housing First’ concept, prioritizing shelter as a means to help the homeless get back on their feet.

Finland had struggled with homelessness for decades, until it decided to set itself a new philosophy starting 2008, where every citizen deserves a home. This challenges the more conventional homeless aid strategy that requires the needy to find a job and cure themselves of any addictions before they can receive any type of accommodation.

With Housing First, those in need are instead given an apartment and counselling – without any questions asked. Not only has this helped 4 out of 5 affected people find their way back towards stability, but it’s also a whole lot cheaper than the costs of giving in to homelessness.