Finland has successfully managed to all but end homelessness by applying a “Housing First” concept which gives affected people a small apartment and counselling without any preconditions.
Writing in Kontrast.at, Kathrin Glösel revealed that the Scandinavian nation is one of the only countries in Europe where homelessness is in decline thanks to a 2008 policy aimed at eradicating it.
NGOs such as “Y-Foundation” provide housing for people in need, taking care of construction of new flats as well as buying flats on the private housing market and renovating existing flats.
It receives discounted loans from the state and help from the Finnish lottery to fund the project. Additionally, social workers caring for the homeless and future tenants are paid by the state.
