The Housing First Europe Hub organized an international seminar in February in Helsinki for experts and civil servants working on housing and social issues. The aim of the event was to discuss and share information on how to solve homelessness.
Finnish Housing First on the focus
The seminar participants gained a broad overview of the Finnish Housing First model through presentations by Finnish experts, including Juha Kaakinen, the CEO of the Y Foundation and expert Peter Fredriksson, who explained how homelessness has been reduced in Finland. The key factor has been the close co-operation between different actors. In addition, Jarmo Lindén, director the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA), explained how the ARA-based subsidy scheme allows affordable housing to be built. Participants also worked in various workshops around the topic of the Housing First to identify common obstacles and challenges they face to developing and delivering Housing First with a key focus on how the Housing First Europe Hub can empower cities and provide practical resources in transitioning to Housing First.
For further information, please review the presentations: