Presentation given by Markku Leijo, City of Helsinki, Finland at a FEANTSA seminar on "Glocalisation of homeless policies? How local authorities can strengthen their homeless strategies through transnational cooperation", Committee of the Regions, May 2006

1. Committee of Regions
Brussels
11 May 2006
GLOCALISATION OF HOMELESS POLICIES
How local authorities can strengthen their homeless strategies
through transnational cooperation
Panel discussion 2; presentation
MAPPING AND MONITORING THE HOMELESS
PROBLEM AT LOCAL LEVEL
Markku Leijo
Deputy Head of Division, M. Soc. Sc
HOUSING DIVISION
CITY OF HELSINKI
e-mail: markku.leijo@hel.fi

2. FINLAND
POPULATION 5 261 250
Helsinki 560 905
Vantaa 187 281
Espoo 231 704
REGION 979 890

3. HOUSING STOCK OF HELSINKI, TOTAL 312 000
owner -occupied
2% 9%
rental / state loaned,
25% 42% others
rental / state loaned,
City of Helsinki
rental, free market
13% 9%
Right-of-occupation
dwellings
others

4. CONCEPT SOCIAL HOUSING
• Rental housing is state loaned
• Occupants are low income
persons or households
• In selecting occupants
preference is given to those
whose housing needs are
most urgent
• The local authorities supervise
the selection of occupants

5. SOCIAL HOUSING
RENTAL DWELLING STOCK BY THE CITY OF HELSINKI
Number of dwellings 41.600
Average rent 8,25 €/m2
Dwelling type, kitchen not incl.
1 room 18 %
2 rooms 46 %
3 rooms 27 %
4 rooms + 9%

6. RESERVATION FOR SPECIAL GROUPS
homeless 2678
people suffering mental illness 855
refugees 269
handicapped 104
elderly 92
TOTAL 3998 dwellings

7. PREVENTION OF HOMELESSNESS
rented dwellings in danger of … %
2001 2488 39,0
2002 2888 40,6
2003 3583 36,9
2004 3447 38,4
2005 3551 43,4
4000
3500
3000 Risks:
2500
in danger of - divorce
2000 homelessness
- short-term contract
rented dwellings
1500 - rental flat sells out
1000 - etc
500
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

8. DEFINITION OF HOMELESS
• Persons staying outdoors
• Persons living in other shelters or hostels or
boarding houses for homeless people
• Persons living in care homes or other housing
units of social welfare authorities, rehabilitation
homes or hospitals due to lack of housing
• Persons living temporarily with relatives and
acquantances due to lack of housing
• Families and couples who have split up or are
living in temporary housing due to lack of
housing

9. SOURCES OF STATISTICS
Housing Fund of Finland
City of Helsinki
Real Estate Department
Housing Division
Social Welfare Department
Social Welfare Services for homeless

10. SINGLE HOMELESS
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
Outdoors, in night 1130 1080 1 985
shelters, in dormitories
In institutions 750 760 385 388 415
Temporarily with 2820 2760 2100 1900 1880
relatives and
acquaintances
Total 4700 4600 3515 3270 3095

11. SINGLE HOMELESS
5000
4500
4000
3500 2820 Temporarily with relatives and
2760
3000 acquaintances
2500 2100 In institutions
1900
1880
2000
Outdoors, in night shelters, in
1500 dormitories
1000
500
0
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

12. HOUSING SERVICES, SOCIAL SECTOR
Number of places
Single dwellings 2130
Supported dwellings 335
Supported homes 178
Night shelter 50
TOTAL 2693

13. HOUSING SERVICES, THIRD SECTOR
REHABILITATION FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSERS
INCLUDING HOUSING (total 748)
Institution places
Suojapirtti 113
Setlementti-liitto 15
Syväpuro 35
Mentally ill 450
Elderly 62
HIV posit. 20
Homeless women 18
Others 35
DORMITORIES, PLACES (659)
Men 557
Women 102

14. COOPERATION: HOUSING DIVISION AND
SOCIAL SECTOR
Tenant selection to city rental flats, year 2005
HOUSING DIVISION
Offers total 238 (7 %)
SOCIAL SERVICES IMMIGRATION CHILDREN
FOR HOMELESS UNIT CARE UNIT
104 22 55
GYPSIES HOMELESS
35 FAMILIES
22

15. COOPERATION ON REGIONAL
LEVEL
• Participants Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa
• Program targeted to decrease homelessness on Helsinki
Region, years 2002-2005
– new production 2300 dwellings
– to by free market 1000 dwellings
– supported housing 600 dwellings
– shelters 100 places
TOTAL 4000

16. CHALLENGES FOR THE FUTURE
NEW PICTURE OF HOMELESS
hardly excluded people in need of special housing solutions
NEW CONCEPT IN RENTAL HOUSING
new principles in tenant selection and finance in new production
SPECIAL OR VULNERABLE GROUP ARE NOT IN FOCUS OF DISCUSSION
HELSINKI IS GOING TO BRING DOWN NEW PRODUCTION IN SOCIAL HOUSING
(state loaned housing)