Ending Homelessness in Finland with Housing First CEO Juha Kaakinen OECD Workshop, Paris 25.11.2019 1 10000 12000 14000 16000 18000 2000 4000 6000 8000 2 0 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1987 in Finland Homelessness 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2027 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 - 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Homelessness in Finland • 5.482 in 2018 (0,1% of the population) • 4.882 single homeless persons (down by 39% since 2008) • 600 in families • Wide definition of homelessness: 70−75% living temporarily with friends and relatives • Low amount of rough sleeping 3 (283) Homelessness in Finland • Long-term homelessness has decreased by 2.435 persons, down by 68% • Its relative share of all single homeless from 45% to 24% since 2008 • The number of long-term homeless 1.162 (2018) 4 Phases of Homelessness Policy in Finland • 1985─2007: Several National Programmes • Welfare legislation • Building new social housing (preventing family homelessness) • Supported housing as part of a staircase model • 2008─2015: Ending Longterm Homelessness • Housing First as the main principle • From temporary to permanent housing • 2016─2019: Programme for Prevention 5 Housing options for Homeless persons in Helsinki Year Supported Independent Hostels and Social housing housing rental shelters apartments apartments 1985 127 65 2.121 35.404 2008 552 2.033 558 68.881 2016 1.309 2.433 52 67.764 6 Government Programme 2019: Eradicating Homelessness within Two Government Terms • Halving homelessness during the government term and eradicating homelessness within two government terms by 2027. • Continue to operate according to the 'Housing First' principle, which has proven to be effective. • Making housing advice as a statutory service and allocating sufficient resources for it. 7 Government Programme 2019: Eradicating Homelessness within Two Government Terms • A cooperation programme on homelessness with the main urban regions, service providers and organisations. • Developing the statistics on homelessness. • Increasing the volume of state-subsidised, reasonably priced housing to supplement the market-driven and private housing supply and to balance fluctuations in the market. 8 How to end homelessness? • Housing First as the mainstream policy, as a systemic model • From temporary to permanent housing solutions • Alternative housing solutions and tailor-made support • Affordable social housing (structural prevention) • Method of implementation: • Wide partnership • Concrete measurable quantitative goals • Short timespan from decision to execution • General housing benefit 9 Elements and criteria of systemic Housing First • Integration and commitment: • National policy/programme involving all key actors: State and local authorities and NGOs (different sectors: housing, social and health, employment, criminal justice) • Prevention: • Level of affordable social housing • Share of housing benefits of total social protection • Housing advisory services • Ending homelessness: • Share of temporary accommodation of total housing supply for HF • Number of support personnel in relation to flats in HF 10.