Joint statement by organizations 16.10.2025 – Homeless Night’s Civil Movement
At the end of 2024, there were 3,806 homeless people in Finland. Finland has been a model country for reducing homelessness, but after 12 years of positive development, homelessness saw a clear increase last year. Street homelessness, in particular, has risen: 694 people spent the night outdoors, in stairwells, and in emergency shelters, which is 230 more than the previous year. The Homeless Night’s Civil Movement reminds us that government decisions can either increase or end homelessness. Now, a direction must be chosen.
The government’s goal is to eliminate long-term homelessness. However, increased living costs, cuts to social security, and tightened rental markets have increased the risk of homelessness and driven new population groups, such as students, low-income individuals, families with children, single parents, and pensioners, into homelessness. The current service system does not account for these new groups, whose need for services or support differs from, for example, the long-term homeless.
The increased number of evictions is also a worrying signal of the impact of structural factors on an individual’s ability to cope. In 2024, 8,383 evictions were sent to enforcement, 35% more than in 2021. Eviction does not always lead to homelessness, but it is reflected, for example, in a significant increase in contacts to housing advisory services. People seek help from housing advisors due to rent arrears, eviction, or the threat of homelessness.
The theme for this year’s Homeless Night, “No home, no safety,” describes a situation where the lack of a home is much more than just lacking a roof over one’s head. Without a home, a person loses their basic security, privacy, and opportunity to recover.
“Homelessness exposes individuals to violence, illness, and inequality. Insecurity does not stem from people experiencing homelessness but from the lack of a permanent housing solution for a person in a homeless situation,” says Sanna Tiivola, Executive Director of Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry (Homeless Association), explaining this year’s theme for Homeless Night.
“It is clearly evident that cuts have already increased homelessness and its risk, but decisions must have humane limits.”
The Homeless Night’s Civil Movement reminds us that it is still possible to eliminate homelessness in Finland, but it requires long-term commitment. Effective solutions are known, and political and cross-sectoral cooperation has been ongoing since 2007.
The actors of the civil movement appeal to decision-makers to recommit Finland to the goal of permanently eliminating homelessness. Housing is a fundamental human right, without which other rights cannot be realized.
Behind homelessness are always individual stories, but the solutions are collective. The low-threshold meeting places and services provided by organizations reach those who would otherwise remain invisible. Organizations are not an expense to society but an essential part of preventing and eliminating homelessness.
“When a person loses their home, they do not disappear from society, but society often disappears around them. At this point, organizations and civil society step in,” Tiivola from Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry reminds us.
The long-term persistence of homelessness also comes at a high cost to the state. According to a study conducted by Sininauhasäätiö last March, long-term homelessness costs society approximately 40,000 euros per person annually, whereas permanent housing with associated support would cost less than 20,000 euros per year.
“Providing housing is both humane and economically sensible. Homelessness work reduces the simultaneous use of multiple services. The prevention of long-term homelessness and homelessness work bring significant savings to welfare areas, the police, and correctional services,” summarizes Kimmo Karvonen, CEO of Sininauhasäätiö.
Homelessness can be eliminated by strengthening societal structures that keep people housed. A home is the foundation of a dignified life. Its absence affects us all and impacts our sense of security.
Inclusion is the foundation of security. Feelings of safety and trust increase when everyone in society is included, not stigmatized, discriminated against, or excluded.
Signatories:
Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry (Homeless Association)
A-Kiltojen Liitto ry
A-klinikkasäätiö (A-Clinic Foundation)
Aspa Foundation
Diakonissalaitos (Deaconess Institute)
Ehkäisevä päihdetyö EHYT ry (Preventive Substance Abuse Work EHYT ry)
Emmaus Helsinki ry
Helsingin Sosiaalinen Oikeudenmukaisuus ry (Helsinki Social Justice Association)
Helsingin vieraskoti ry – Helsingfors Gästhem och Natthärbärgen (Helsinki Guest Home and Night Shelters)
Irti Huumeista ry (Free from Drugs Association)
Iso Numero (Big Issue)
Kalliolan Setlementti ry (Kallio Settlement Association)
Katto-toiminta / Moniheli ry (Roof Activity / Moniheli ry)
NAL Palvelut Oy
Nuorisoasuntoliitto NAL ry (Youth Housing Association NAL ry)
Pro-tukipiste ry (Pro-Support Point Association)
RETS Rikoksettoman elämän tukisäätiö (RETS Foundation for a Crime-Free Life)
Rinnekodit
Sateenkaari-ikkuna ry (Rainbow Window Association)
Setlementtiasunnot Oy
Sininauhaliitto ry (Blue Ribbon Federation)
Sininauhasäätiö (Blue Ribbon Foundation)
Stop Huumeille ry (Stop Drugs Association)
Suoja-Pirtti ry
Suomen lähi- ja perushoitajien liitto, Super (Finnish Union of Practical Nurses, Super)
Suomen Pelastusarmeijan Säätiö (The Salvation Army Finland Foundation)
Suomen Setlementtiliitto ry (Finnish Federation of Settlement Houses)
Supernovat
Suur-Helsingin Valkonauha ry (Greater Helsinki White Ribbon Association)
Tukikohta ry (Support Point Association)
Työttömien Keskusjärjestö (Central Organization of Unemployed Persons)
Artteli-kumppanuusyhdistys ry (Artteli Partnership Association)
Asumisen tuen sosiaalityö, Länsi-Uudenmaan hyvinvointialue (Housing Support Social Work, Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County)
EMY ry
Joensuun Siniristi ry (Joensuu Blue Cross Association)
Kaakkois-Suomen Sininauha ry (Southeastern Finland Blue Ribbon Association)
Kaivo Espoo ry
Kallion seurakunta, Suomen evankelis-luterilainen kirkko (Kallio Parish, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland)
Karis-Pojo svenska församling (Karis-Pojo Swedish Parish)
Klubitalo Fontana ry (Clubhouse Fontana Association)
KRAN rf
Kunnon Elämä ry (Good Life Association)
Mielenterveysomaiset Pirkanmaa – FinFami ry (Mental Health Relatives Pirkanmaa – FinFami ry)
NAL Hämeenlinnan seutu ry (NAL Hämeenlinna Region Association)
NAL Itä-Uusimaa ry (NAL Eastern Uusimaa Association)
NAL Riihimäki ry
Nuorten Ystävät ry (Youth Friends Association)
Olarin seurakunta (Olari Parish)
Pelastusarmeijan Turun tuettu asuminen, Patas (The Salvation Army’s Supported Housing in Turku, Patas)
Pysäkki ry, Iisalmi
Raaseporin suomalainen seurakunta (Raseborg Finnish Parish)
Rauman Seudun Katulähetys ry (Rauma Region Street Mission Association)
Savonlinnan toimintakeskus ry (Savonlinna Activity Center Association)
Sirkkulanpuiston toimintayhdistys ry (Sirkkulanpuisto Activity Association)
Tampereen A-Kilta ry (Tampere A-Guild Association)
Tukena-säätiö sr (Tukena Foundation sr)
Turun ja Kaarinan seurakuntayhtymä (Turku and Kaarina Parish Union)
Työterapinen yhdistys ry (Occupational Therapy Association)
Vaihtoehto 90 ry (Alternative 90 Association)
Vantaan Asunnottomien Hyvinvoinnin tuki ry Vahti ry (Vantaa Homeless Wellbeing Support Association Vahti ry)
YAD ry
Yhdessä Selviytymisen Tuki YSTI (Support for Surviving Together YSTI)
