While there is no explicit national strategy to address homelessness, there have been calls for an integrated housing provision strategy in which the state, region and municipality are all jointly responsible for providing adequate housing.
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.
Health. Researchers have found that excess mortality among homeless men and women in Stockholm is entirely related to alcohol and drug abuse. Some researchers have conducted studies on the oral health of homeless people in Sweden and found that they have fewer remaining teeth than the general population.
Housing prices having increased homelessness significantly, and although there are more houses being built, they are not affordable (Borgen Project, 2020). The estimated number of homeless people in Sweden in 2020 was 33,000 (Stadsmissionen, 2021).
At 0.003% or roughly 1 homeless person per 34,000 residents, Japan is the country with the world's lowest rate of homelessness. Moreover, with a population of around 125.7 million people, the country also has one of the lowest numbers of homeless people.
Meanwhile, Finland committed to eradicating homelessness several years ago, and the statistics in that country show it's working. What is Finland's plan to eradicate homelessness? Since several years, homelessness has decreased in Finland, and the current government has a plan to end homelessness completely by 2027.
And so it is that here in Toronto we're busy studying how to jam more beds into already-cramped shelters, while over in Finland — where innovation is more than just another word for privatization — they've managed to virtually end homelessness.
Sweden's incorporation of equal education opportunities, beyond gender or socioeconomic status, help increase opportunities for Swedish citizens, thus limiting poverty expansion. Sweden's Education Act protects free education for all through secondary school.
Sweden measures its poverty in terms of absolute poverty (income of $2 per day), rather than relative poverty (less than 60 percent of median income). This means that those who are making barely enough to eat two meals a day are not considered to be in absolute poverty.
At the heart of Sweden's woes is a dysfunctional housing market, which has not only cemented social divides, but exacerbated them. The country's property boom — which saw prices increase by almost 250% in the past 20 years — was fueled by razor-thin borrowing costs and a shortage of rental properties.
Irregular migrant children often live in hiding, they do not go to school nor have access to medical facilities. They are subject to exploitation and deplorable work conditions.
A Scandinavian country is close to eliminating homelessness with a simple solution. Communities around the world are racing to copy it. The number of homeless in Helsinki sank to around 2,200 earlier this year, putting the Finnish capital on track to eliminate homelessness by 2025.
Australians have the highest median wealth in the world, yet they rank 3rd in the proportion of the population that is homeless.
Visitors to Japan, for example, often observe that the homeless of Japan rarely ask for money from pedestrians. In addition, the Japanese culture's emphasis on politeness also means the homeless try to stay out of everyone's way.
The process of deinstitutionalization involved the elimination of mental institutions, which then led to an increase of people living the street. Denmark, in comparison, worked on improving mental institutions (Hansen 115), which resulted in a lower rate of homelessness (Benjaminsen and Dyb 49).
Iceland stands at the top of countries with the lowest poverty rates with a poverty rate of 4.9% in 2021.
Sweden's Gini-coefficient—a measure of income inequality—increased sharply in 2021, reaching 0.333, which is the highest since measurements began in 1975.
Tourist restaurants and shops are expensive, but the cost of living in Sweden is lower than in 79% of Western European countries. The capital of the country - Stockholm is undoubtedly the most expensive city. In 2021, it was ranked 72nd out of 209 cities in the Mercer Cost of Living 2021 study.
Poverty was highest among younger and older people in 2019-20, but COVID income supports did much to reduce it among children and young people. The average rate of poverty in 2019-20 was 17% among children, 14% among young people 15-24 years of age, 12% among people aged 25-64 years, and 14% among older people.
The risks in the global financial system are elevated. Overall, the Swedish financial system has functioned well also during times of turmoil on global financial markets. However, there are vulnerabilities that have long characterised the Swedish economy that now entail challenges.
Obesity is among the main five risk factors in Sweden for healthy years of life being lost.
It is true that in Japan, the vast majority of homeless people spend their nights sleeping in parks and undeveloped riverside area. Compared to many other countries, the portion of homeless people literally sleeping on the streets, sidewalks, or in storefronts in Japan is very small.
Why is Japan's Homeless Population So Low? Worldwide, homelessness results from many factors, including drug addiction, mental health, housing options, education and government decisions. Japan's strict drug laws, mental health systems and housing options contribute to the countries low homeless population.