Download - A Housing-led approach to youth homelessness
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
+35840 726 1982