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
Presentation given by Kaisa Tuuteri , Finnish Youth Housing Association (FI) at the 2013 FEANTSA conference, "Investing in young people to prevent a lost generation: policy and practice in addressing youth homelessness" http://feantsa.org/spip.php?article1596&lang=en
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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)