The vast majority, some 3500, are in the capital. That's up by 300 since 2008, according to the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA).
"Many people arrive in Helsinki from other parts of Finland without a place to stay or means of income," says Seppo Saine, a senior official at Helsinki's social services agency.
"Some also end up without a roof over their heads because of the economic downturn. Meanwhile there is a severe shortage of low to moderately priced rental flats. And a phenomenon that is particular to Helsinki is immigrants arriving here from other parts of the country."
Most of the homeless stay with friends or at shelters. A few hundred sleep rough, for instance in garbage containers, public toilets, stairwells or cars.