Joint statement of organizations 16.10.2025 – Citizens' Movement for the Night of the Homeless
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 began to rise significantly last year. Street homelessness in particular has increased: 694 people slept outdoors, in stairwells and in first aid shelters, which is 230 more than a year earlier. The Homeless Night Citizens' Movement reminds us that government decisions can increase or end homelessness. Now is the time to choose a direction.
The government's goal is to eliminate long-term homelessness. However, rising living costs, cuts to social security and a tight rental market have increased the risk of homelessness and have also driven new groups of people, such as students, low-income earners, families with children, single parents and pensioners, into homelessness. The current service system does not take into account these new groups of people, whose needs for services or support are different from, for example, the long-term homeless.
The increased number of evictions is also a worrying signal about the impact of structural factors on individual well-being. In 2024, 8,383 evictions were foreclosed, 35% more than in 2021. Eviction does not always lead to homelessness, but is seen, for example, as a sharp increase in contacts with housing advice. Housing advice is sought for help due to rent arrears, eviction or the threat of homelessness.
The theme of the year's Homeless Night, " No Home, No Security ," describes a situation where the lack of housing is much more than just a roof over your head. Without housing, a person loses their basic security, privacy, and the opportunity to recover.
Sanna Tiivola, executive director of the Association for the Lack of Permanent Housing, opening this year’s theme of Homeless Night.
"It is clear that the cuts have already increased homelessness and the risk of it, but decisions must have humane limits."
The Homeless Night Citizens' Movement reminds us that it is still possible to eliminate homelessness in Finland, but it requires long-term commitment. Workable solutions are known and both political and cross-sectoral cooperation has been carried out towards them since 2007.
Citizens' movement activists appeal to decision-makers to recommit Finland to the goal of permanently eliminating homelessness. Housing is a fundamental human right, without which no other rights can be realized.
Homelessness always has its own unique stories, but the solutions are shared. The low-threshold meeting places and services of organizations reach those who would otherwise remain invisible. Organizations are not an expense in society, but a necessary part of preventing and eliminating homelessness.
”When a person loses their home, they do not disappear from society, but often society disappears from around them. This is where organizations and civil society come together,” reminds Tiivola of the Vailla väkinaista asuntoa ry.
Long-term homelessness is also costly for the state. According to a study conducted by the Sininauhasäätiö last March, long-term homelessness costs society approximately 40,000 euros per person annually, while permanent housing and related support would cost less than 20,000 euros per year.
"Providing housing makes sense both humanly and economically. Homelessness work reduces the simultaneous use of several services. Prevention of long-term homelessness and homelessness work bring significant savings to welfare areas", the police and prison care, sums up Kimmo Karvonen .
Homelessness can be eliminated by strengthening the social structures that keep people in housing. Home is the foundation of a dignified life. Its absence affects us all and affects 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:
Without a permanent home association
A-Kilts Association
A-Clinic Foundation
Aspa Foundation
Deaconess Institute
Preventive substance abuse work EHYT association
Emmaus Helsinki association
Helsinki Social Justice association
Helsinki Guest House association – Helsingfors Gästhem och Natthärbärgen
Free from Drugs association
Iso Numero
Kalliola Settlement association
Roof activities / Moniheli association
NAL Services Ltd
Youth Housing Association NAL association
Pro-tukipiste association
RETS Crime-free life support foundation
Rinnekodit
Rainbow Window
association Settlement Association Ltd
Blue Ribbon Association
Blue Ribbon Foundation
Stop Drugs
Suoja-Pirtti association
Finnish Association of Home and Primary Care Workers, Super
Finnish Salvation Army Foundation
Finnish Settlement Association
Supernovat
Greater Helsinki White Ribbon association
Tukikohta association
Central Organization of the Unemployed
Artteli Partnership Association
Housing Support Social Work, Western Uusimaa Welfare Area
EMY association
Joensuu Blue Cross Association
Southeast Finland Sininauha association
Kaivo Espoo
association Kallio parish, Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church
Karis-Pojo Swedish parish
Clubhouse Fontana association
KRAN rf
Kunnon Elämä association
Mentally healthy Pirkanmaa – FinFami association
NAL Hämeenlinna region association
NAL Itä-Uusimaa association
NAL Riihimäki association
Friends of Youth
association Olari parish
Salvation Army Turku supported housing, Patas
Pysäkki association, Iisalmi
Finnish parish of Raseborg
Rauma Region Street outreach association
Savonlinna activity center association
Sirkkulanuisto activity association
Tampereen A-Kilta association
Tukena-säätiö sr
Turku and Kaarina parish federation
Occupational therapy association
Vaihtoehto 90 association
Vantaa Homeless Welfare Support association Vahti association
YAD association
Together to Survive Support YSTI
