How Finland Found A Solution To Homelessness

And why aren't we doing it everywhere.

[janine]

I am in Oregon, USA. I was homeless and my cousin took me in and gave me a spot to park my old camper. Then he helped me find a better rig. Then his brother gave me a "permanent" spot to park and minimal electricity. I was able to get the rest I needed and a safe place from which to jump back into society. I am now a school bus driver which I love. I am getting stronger and healing from long-term disabilities. I love my life now!!!

[NancyCronk]

Pscyhologist Abraham Maslow said you can't work on higher level goals in your life when you are using all of your time and energy just trying to get basic needs like food and water met. The Finnish system makes good sense, and every country should use this model.

[taru]

Greetings from 🇫🇮 I work with this homelessness program and I want to say that when a person finally gets that little home of his own, he doesn't want to lose it, which contributes to rehabilitation. They go to rehab, rehabilitative work, go to school and even get a job. I'm really proud of them. They take life into their own hands again.

[CMDR_Verm]

I'm not homeless but Finland sounds like a very nice place to live if this is their attitude, helping people rather than treating them like dirt.

[juliancalero]

Who knew giving people houses and supporting them meaningfully reduces homelessness

[brianwenger]

I WAS a homeless person In New orleans USA, but the unity program which has a "housing 1rst" program, was successful in getting me back in society. It works!

[Jocov]

I was homeless, got into drug's went to prison and then I got to know Jesus and he changed my life...Heaven came through for me in my finances too, getting $50, 000 in 2months . I can support God's work and give back to my community. God is absolutely more than enough! Now I have a new identity and a child of God

[MonsieurChapeau]

Housing first is safety first. The stress of living moment to moment in survival mode is unbelievable. In addition to the practical obstacles that come with not having a fixed address.

[sharonmoore]

I’m Australian and I’ve noticed here the number of empty office buildings and have thought for years that they could be made into homes for the homeless with social workers on the ground floors a teaching kitchen to help with nutrition and basic cooking cooking for adults, various teachers who could teach about finances and banking, government letters etc all the things that we should know but don’t.

[chaznonya]

I was homeless for 15 years. Only when an old friend gave me a camper and a spot to keep it on - then I was able to get everything else in order.
Btw, thanks Paul.

[TheDerangedBlood]

I lost my job and the next day the guy I was renting a room from (no kitchen, just a room and a bathroom) told me he needed the room back. I called California state for assistance and the woman on the phone belittled me for not being able to find another place to live. It was difficult to get a hold of a real person and when I did the first time, they hung up on me when I asked a question. I got the hell out of that State and moved to Washington state because I have family that was willing to help me. I'm still struggling but if it weren't for family and the small amount of SNAP i get from the state, I would also be on the streets. Hats off to you Finland for taking care of citizens when they fall on hard times. THAT is what a government should be doing.

[darlameeks]

There is a similar program in Utah. They figured out that it was cheaper to house the homeless than to incarcerate them (which is what they were doing previously). It really works!

[photographedemode]

Something needs to be done in the USA that is for sure. I have never seen so many homeless in my life and never thought it could ever get so bad. Unfortunately having a roof over your head in the USA is starting to be a luxury even for people who work, don't have drug or mental problems.

[Zaron_Gaming]

Yup this works! This is how I got out of the homeless life. I was given a room and a bed and help when I needed it, how I needed it and always had people I could trust to talk to when I felt I was struggling and I WANTED to be better. Human beings want to make ourselves stronger and happier. It's built into us. I was given the opportunity to feel safety around me and I was able to address my needs without bias or being afraid the floor would fall out under me. This was in Washington State USA. People need stability and true safety to grow

[nonyadamnbusiness]

This makes a good point. A lot of homeless crazies and drug addicts are schizophrenic. The thing a schizophrenic needs most in order to get better is stability. A warm dry place to sleep that you won't get kicked out of is the most important part of stability.

[notsparks]

I work with homeless individuals often as an attorney. The answer has always been in the name of the issue - it has been and will always be about housing. If we look at homelessness as a medical issue, housing would be the treatment. Homelessness brings with it many other issues such as addiction, mental health issues and crime, but these are also symptoms of the issue - when people don't have a place to feel safe and are hungry and cold, we do what we have to to try and survive another day - it may be drugs as an escape, prolonged exposure to extreme stress causes mental health issues in the best of us, and if you can steal something and sell it you can buy food and drugs. Providing permanent, supportive housing allows people to feel safe so that they can focus on the things they couldn't. Housing First isn't new, it's modern focus originated in a study in NYC decades ago. It is expensive, but studies show it is less expensive to house people than jailing them for public camping, or having them in ERs to warm up, cool off, or after an OD.

[jevinday]

I was homeless for years. I couldn't stop doing drugs. I didn't want to live. I got an apartment through government housing and I immediately stopped doing drugs. I smoke pot but it's legal here in Arizona. My life has improved incredibly. I have started making YouTube videos, singing and playing the guitar again, and I get to decorate it however I want. It's my sanctuary. For years I went in and out of rehabs, mental hospitals, halfway houses, and sleeping on the ground. And the other thing is the government is spending WAY less money on me because I'm not constantly in detox and rehab on their dime. Great video topic! Finland looks amazing.

[vibesmom]

I’ve experienced homelessness first hand in and with several friends.Housing first is essential to have any chance of getting your life back together. When your homeless your in survival mode. All day, everyday, your focused on finding the necessities, staying out of bad weather, making sure all you own isn’t taken or trashed. There is no true privacy, nowhere to safely let your guard down. Your shut off from society, shunned and looked down upon. All that does is mess with your mental health. Expecting people to climb up from that is absurd, and for some, simply insurmountable.

I feel our society runs on fault, shame, and blame instead of compassion for the situation and integrated solutions that solve problems. With the wealth and availability of so many abandoned buildings all across the US, there is no excuse for the crisis we are now in. I believe the e only way we can truly effect change is to create robust community organizations that work together and start funding them at the town level. This will not come from Washington.

[gringoamigo]

I've lived in Finland for years as an expat student. I can definitely confirm that I never saw a single homeless person and have been all over Finland from Lapland all the way down to Helsinki.

[DizzKola]

I’m an educator and have also done research on best practices around the world and Finland has also use amazing ingenuity to be a leader in student success and literacy. Maybe I’ll move to Finland someday.