Youth homelessness in Finland

- a preventative perspective

Kaisa Tuuteri

The Finnish Youth Housing Association

Youth Homelessness Prevention Project (2012-2015)

in Finland

Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation in Europe:

key policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness

8th November 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Youth Housing Association – NAL in short

The Finnish Youth Housing Association (Nuorisoasuntoliitto), in

short NAL, provides nationwide services for and oversees the

interests of young people in need of housing.

NAL was established in 1971 as a national interest organisation for

the youth housing policy.

We are a non-governmental, non-profit organisation independent of

any political and denominational affiliation.

NAL – umbrella organization for 27 regional

associations

Espoo

Helsinki

Heinola

Hyvinkää

Hämeenlinna

Joensuu

Jyväskylä

Kankaanpää

Keski-Uusimaa

Kiiminki

Kirkkonummi

Kuopio

Lahti

Lempäälä

Lohja

Nokia&Pirkkala

Oulu

Pattijoki

Porvoo

Riihimäki

Rovaniemi

Savonlinna

Tampere

Turku

Valkeakoski

Vantaa

Ylöjärvi

What do we do?

We rent and construct

apartments for people under 30

years of age, working or looking

for work.

We provide housing advice/

guidance and supported

housing.

We oversee the interests of

young people in need of

housing.

We research and distribute

information about and for young

people.

Jätkäsaari, 180 NAL Apartments in Helsinki

NAL apartments

NAL has over 3700 apartments in 31 localities. About 600 in

Helsinki.

We have over 4000 residents

We receive over 12 000 housing applications a year.

The Finnish National Programme to Reduce Long-

term Homelessness

In Finland, the Government has approved a national programme to

reduce homelessness and eliminate long-term homelessness by

2015.

First part of the programme was carried out 2008-2011, then focus

was on reducing the long-term homelessness and for example

change all traditional short-term shelters into supported housing

units that facilitate independent living.

The new Government decided to continue the programme and

second part started in 2012 (-2015). Now the focus is more on

preventing homelessness, scattered independent housing and

floating support as an option to congregate housing complexes.

Youth Homelessness Prevention Project (2012-

2015) in Finland

Housing First:

Appropriate accommodation is a precondition for solving other social and health

problems; option to traditional staircase approach

The goal of Housing First is to provide a permanent housing solution for

homeless people as quickly as possible, combined with flexible social support

based on their needs

The programme is based on a partnership between central

government and the country’s ten largest municipalities affected by

homelessness. It is carried out in Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Lahti,

Oulu, Joensuu, Kuopio, Tampere, Turku and Jyväskylä.

Youth Homelessness Prevention Project is coordinated by the

Finnish Youth Housing Association (NAL) and is funded by Finland’s

Slot Machine Association (RAY). The project aims to prevent and

reduce youth homelessness in Finland

Youth Homelessness Prevention Project (2012-

2015) in Finland Main goals:

To increase the amount of apartments with 600

To increase the amount, availability and quality of services for

being able to lead an independent life (housing guidance, advice

and supported housing)

How to do this:

1. We work in a multi-professional groups of expertise, take

initiatives and carry out statements to achieve more apartments

and services to young people (structural goal)

2. We assist employees to support the skills of young adults to

become independent

3. We advance the multidisciplinary work in municipalities

4. We offer the information about youth housing and

homelessness

Background

In Finland, the average age for moving out from the childhood home

and become independent is lower than in many other European

countries.

In Finland the median age to become independent is 21 years.

Only 16 % of Finnish young adults (ages between 25−29) are living

with their parents

Compare minimum 50% in many EU-countries live with their

parents!

Increase in youth homelessness 45 % (2011-2012) (increase among all homeless people +4 %)

Source: The Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA)

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

All homeless in Finland 9561 8186 7651 7430 7399 7533 7955 8153 7877

7 572 7 852

Homeless youth (under 25 years) 1644 1558 1424 1368 1399 1328 1319 1498 1375

1 409 2 049

Homeless youth (under 25 years) in 2010-2012

Points of youth homelessness in Finland

According to statistics

every 4th homeless person is under 25 years old, over 50 % of

youth homelessness is situated in Helsinki

there are approximately 400 young adults, whose situation can

be defined as long-term homelessness (has lasted over one year

or been constant during three years)

Youth homelessness is usually temporary and unexpected,

concerns often unsettled stage of life and and the stage when

becoming independent

Usually the homeless young adults live temporarily with family or

friends

There are also young people who do not have any place to go –

amount is increasing especially in Helsinki

Points of youth homelessness in Finland

Lack of reasonable priced housing in Helsinki and some other big

cities

Young people have low and unstable income

Increasing youth unemployment

The combination of low income and the lack of affordable housing

has increased the amount of debts and payment defaults

356 000 people with payment defaults and 35 % of them under 30 year

40 % of the payment defaults related to unpaid rents concern people under 30

years

Most of the lessors require “clean” credit data and if a person has a

payment default it´s very difficult to receive an apartment this also

applies to the home insurance.

Facts that can predict homelessness in further

life (at the age of 16)

Depression

Behaviour disorders

(Massive) physical disorders

Substance abuse

Unstable family situation

(Source: Fröjd, Marttunen, Kaltiala & Heino: Nuorten aikuisten asunnottomuutta

ennustavat tekijät peruskoulun viimeisellä luokalla. Sosiaalilääketieteellinen aikakauslehti,

vol 49, nro 3 (2012)).

Prevention is a key to solve youth

homelessness

1. More reasonable priced housing, especially in the

metropolitan area

2. Range of individual services and support to young

people who need help – consequence of coordination

1. Information about housing

2. Housing advice

3. Supported housing (floating support)

1. Information about housing

Producing information to all young people about housing and

becoming independent – for example about the rights and duties as

a resident, what do you have to think about before moving out from

your childhood home, how to balance your budget, and how to find

help if the need arises

web-pages (www.asumisenabc.com), other materials and guides

Distributing the information in cooperation with schools, Finnish

defence forces, parents – “lessons of housing” and housing infos

Educating employees working with young adults

“Courses of housing” for the homeless young adults to receive and

to keep an apartment.

2. Housing advice

Appropriate and prompt method to support young adults housing

Housing advisors:

assist residents to solve their problems with their living, usually

financial problems and unpaid rents make payment plans

focus is on housing

encourage to find further help if needed

can work in the field of the Social services, in housing

companies or in associations (for example in the regional

associations of NAL)

There is evidence that housing advice prevents evictions

over 100 evictions/year less in 2012 than in 2008 in Helsinki

more effective the earlier the intervention is done

cost-effective in every operator´s point of view

3. Supported housing - floating support

Support for independent living, for example those

who have been homeless, child welfare youth, are underaged,

have young families, are rehabilitating from mental illness or

substance abuse (but don´t have an acute problem), are young

immigrants

The support consists of periods

from heavy to light (heavier in the beginning and lighter when a

client is becoming more independent)

It´s more extensive than housing advice: the main focus is on

housing but it also concentrates on other parts of client´s life

(education, work)

3. Supported housing - floating support

There is a 'case manager‘ whose function is to provide practical and

social support to clients and help them to become independent.

Manager assists young adults comprehensively (for example to find

proper services in the field of Social Services and Health Care, if needed).

The support is floating and it´s provided at the environment that is the most

suitable for the young adult, the support is flexible and based on the

special needs of a client.

The supported housing is based on the idea of normal living and

integration – young adults are residents like everyone else.

The main idea is that after the support the young adult can stay and

continue the living in the same apartment

Scattered housing: 15 % of residents in one youth housing complex can

be supported at the time

3. Supported housing - floating support

Year Number of

clients

Average age Average

duration (in

months)

Succes rate

2012 178 19 8,5 81,5 %

2013

(1.1.-31.8.)

176 19 8,8 88,6 %

Source: NAL Palvelut ltd, the company owned by

NAL and three regional associations

Conclusion: What is still needed?

More small and affordable housing!

Crisis accommodation for young adults the need of some

temporary options for those who do not have any place to go (young

working people shouldn’t stay in a place for heavy drug and alcohol

abusers)

Focus on prevention: more floating support, housing advice,

supported housing, outreach work, economic and debt counselling

Better co-ordination of structure for support services

More multi-professional, multidisciplinary work – we have a lot of

services and assistance for young adults, but the structure of

services should be better organized and co-ordinated

Thank you!

Contact Information:

Kaisa Tuuteri

kaisa.tuuteri@nal.fi

+35840 726 1982