Youth homelessness has grown explosively, with more than half of homeless young adults residing in the capital city area, where there are more than 1,000 under-25s without a home. While the numbers are smaller in other large cities the trend is the same, according to data from the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland, ARA.
“Something must be done. We have suppliers of youth accommodation, but they have rather strict criteria concerning the kinds of young people they serve. It needs to be more inclusive,” said Sanna Lehtonen of the NGO No Fixed Abode.
Changing face of the homeless
Since the turn of the new century homelessness has taken on a new face. The common stereotype of the street drifter has given morphed to include young adults and immigrants. Women are also increasingly joining the ranks of the homeless. Organisations such as No Fixed Abode say that the few available services such as accommodation centres for long-term homeless alcoholics do not cater to young adults.
“If we think about someone under 25 they won’t go there. And if they do, they’ll leave right away, so there needs to be some kind of temporary shelter for young people,” Lehtonen explained.
In most cases young people with no fixed abode sleep over at friends' homes. Those who have recourse to neither friends nor family are in danger of falling into a cycle of drug use and mental health problems brought about by homelessness.