Nearly 20 years ago, Finland opened the door to Housing First – a system in which people experiencing homelessness are provided with housing, then given support to address any issues that they are struggling with. Sweden has now embraced the scheme. But how can Finland build new, inexpensive housing while it seems impossible for its neighbours?

How Finland succeeded in reducing homelessness

Iso Numero's Enkete Mungbaba. Credit: Janne Hukka.

Everyone who is a part of the global street paper network knows what a street paper is – that extends to the staff that put each publication together and those who buy them. But the people who truly know what a street paper is – what it means – are those who sell them. Here, a collection of street paper vendors – from Brazil to Finland – tell us, in their own words, what a street paper is, personally to them.

“Street papers have a sort of superpower” – what street papers are in the words of those who sell them

Finland is the only EU country where homelessness is decreasing. Juha Kaakinen has played a significant role in developing the work undertaken around homelessness since the 1980s: as a civil servant for the City of Helsinki, a member of the group that developed the Housing First approach, and as CEO of Y-Foundation, which offers affordable housing to homeless and low-income people. He says eradicating homelessness is a challenge that can be met.

Finland is saying goodbye to homelessness: An interview with Juha Kaakinen

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