Finland was an early adopter of the Housing First approach. Housing First ends an individual's homelessness by moving them quickly into independent and permanent housing (a home) and then providing additional support and services as needed, and for as long as needed.
In conclusion, while it may not have the smallest homeless population or the lowest rate of homelessness in the world, Finland is the country that handles homelessness the best.
Housing First policy in Finland provides long-term housing & stability to homeless populations. Utilizing its Housing First concept, Finland has been able to provide its homeless population with small apartments and counseling without preconditions.
A Housing First approach requires housing, and Finland set about converting shelters into apartment units and buying and constructing housing for Housing First. In 1985, Helsinki had 2,121 shelter and hostel beds1, and by 2016, the number had shrunk to 52.
If you do not have permanent housing, and you are not officially a tenant or a subtenant, you are considered homeless. In Finland, municipalities offer services for the homeless. These services are intended for those who have a municipality of residence in Finland.
However, what is certain is that Japan is the only country in the world with a homeless population rate of around 0%. At least that is what the 2022 statistical data indicate, which show an amazing drop that began in the preceding years.
While there is no definitive answer, some reports have claimed that Japan has a homelessness rate of 0%. We can't state with absolute certainty that those numbers are true and accurate, but if they are, then Japan stands alone in that feat.
Finland has a child poverty rate of 4%, compared to the U.S. child poverty rate of 20%. This is due to Finland shifting welfare policies from local government to big government by providing mothers with public daycare and allowances for children under the age of 17.
The Finnish Miracle is a best selling book about Finland and its numerous success stories. It is an inspiring journey into the Finnish spirit and its achievements. It also presents a simple new model - The Possibility Model - for generating greater social and economic possibilities at all levels.
The right to housing is enshrined in the Finnish Constitution which includes a right to accommodation if life or health is in danger without arranged accommodation. The Constitution 6 § does not allow any discrimination due to origin.
The Finnish Government has supported and funded a number of Housing First programmes and initiatives, including funding for housing construction and for support services. A major success of these Government led initiatives was the conversion of existing homeless shelters into permanent housing.
With state, municipal and NGO backing, flats were bought, new blocks built and old shelters converted into permanent, comfortable homes – among them the Rukkila homeless hostel in the Helsinki suburb of Malminkartano where Ainesmaa now lives.
The capital city of Helsinki is one of the most liveable cities in Europe due to its low crime rate, strong social rights and the wide range of activities on offer. These are some of the top reasons why you should move to Helsinki at some point, and why you may even want to stay permanently.
Part of: Australia's welfare 2021
Governments across Australia fund services to support people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, China had approximately 2,000 shelters and 20,000 social workers to aid approximately 3 million homeless people in 2014. From 2017 to 2019, the government of Guangdong Province assisted 5,388 homeless people in reuniting with relatives elsewhere in China.
Black and Native Americans are more likely to become homeless than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Although Black people comprise 13 percent of the general population and 21.4 percent of those living in poverty, they account for 40 percent of the homeless population.
According to Finnish philosopher Frank Martela, Finns are generally happy because Finnish culture is more accepting of negative emotions and tough times. “Nobody goes through life without tragedies, so being able to accept the situation is helpful,” he says.
Truthfulness and honesty are greatly valued and respected
Indeed, Finns derive a great deal of pride from the high level of social trust present in the society, which in turn is an indication of the perception that people are believed to be acting honestly.
Simply put, things work well in Finland: public services run smoothly, there are low levels of crime and corruption, and there is an earned trust between the government and the public. All of this works together to create a functioning society and a culture of looking out for everyone.
According to the World Happiness Report, Finland tops the charts for happiness, for the 5th consecutive year. We share the highest positions with other Nordic countries with similar societies. The main reasons for success are our high standard of living, social support, low corruption and high social trust and freedom.
“Many things are undeniably good here – beautiful nature, we're well governed, lots of things are in order,” the business owner said. The country of vast forests and lakes is also known for its well-functioning public services, ubiquitous saunas, widespread trust in authority and low levels of crime and inequality.
Finland's low population density and comparatively unspoilt natural environment also facilitate nature conservation. The fruits of successful environmental policies are clearly visible around the country. Many polluted lakes and rivers have been cleaned up. Air quality has improved greatly around industrial locations.
Japan's strict drug laws, mental health systems and housing options contribute to the countries low homeless population.
Age. Across both household and shelter types, nearly three-quarters of people experiencing homelessness were adults aged 25 or older (428,859 people), 18% were children under the age of 18 (106,364 children).
Affordable Housing and Social Protection Systems for all to Address Homelessness. This situation is often profoundly worse in low- and middle-income countries like China. It is estimated that 300 million people in the country—home to 1.4 billion Chinese—are homeless.