[ad_1]
The number of people sleeping on the streets in the UK has increased since 2010. However, in the Finnish capital, Helsinki, street sleep has almost been eliminated through an innovative program. What can British cities learn from Finns?
Out of the grandiose Helsinki Central Station at an extremely cold evening, you will quickly notice something unusual.
There are no people sleeping on the street and nobody is begging.
The contrast with the big cities of the UK – where people sleeping in a sleeping bag, blankets or tents – are a sight-seeing – is striking.
"In my childhood, I remember hundreds, if not thousands, of people sleeping in parks and forests," said Deputy Mayor of Helsinki Sanna Vesikansa.
"It was visible, but we do not have it anymore. The street homeless do not exist in Helsinki."
Call for fundamental action against restless sleep
Over the last 30 years, the fight against homelessness has been the focus of successive governments in Finland.
In 1987, there were more than 18,000 people homeless. The latest figures at the end of 2017 indicate that about 6,600 people were clbadified as homeless.
The vast majority live with friends or family, or are housed in temporary housing. A very small number only sleeps in the streets.
So how did the Finns succeed?
Since 2007, their government has developed homelessness policies on the foundations of the principle of "housing first".
In simple terms, it gives people who sleep in disorder or people who become homeless a stable and permanent home of their own as soon as possible.
He then provides them with the help and support they need. This can help a person who is trying to address an addiction, help them learn new skills or help them to undertake training, study or work.
This is very different from the traditional approach in the UK, where a permanent home is only offered after a homeless person has asked for help in a home. for homeless or temporary housing.
Thomas Salmi, who became homeless at the age of 18, had to leave his orphanage.
He spent three years in the streets of Helsinki, where the average minimum temperature in February is -7 ° C (19 ° F).
"When you lose everything, it does not matter," he says. "Thinking about suicide, am I going to die, is it safe?"
"It's cold, especially in the middle of winter, and if you sleep outside, you could die."
Thomas Salmi braved three extremely cold winters on the streets of the Finnish capital
For the past two years, Thomas has had his own apartment in a large complex run by the Helsinki Deaconess Institute (HDI), one of the many organizations that host homeless Finns.
Now 24, he says living in the HDI has helped change his life. He used to drink a lot while he lived on the street, but only touched alcohol on the weekends.
Under Housing first, the offer of a home is unconditional. Even if a person continues to use drugs or abuse alcohol, they can stay at home or in the apartment, as long as they interact with support workers.
They can pay rent through the housing allowance and people can even choose to stay for the rest of their lives.
The Helsinki Deaconess Institute has more than 400 apartments for former homeless people
"They told me it was my house," says Thomas. "And I asked them – will someone tell me," we need this house and you have to go there? "But they said," No, that's it. is your home, you can do what you want. "
"When I have a stable home, I can try to build everything around me, like work, school, family, friends, but when you're in the street, you do not have anything that. "
HDI has a total of 403 apartments in Helsinki and the nearby town of Espoo.
The tenants meet in the common kitchen for lunch and socialize in the living rooms. Support workers are always at hand.
Pia Rosenberg has been in the street for more than four years
Pia Rosenberg, 64, has been living in the same Housing First project since 2014, after being homeless for two years.
"It suits me well because I am an alcoholic and I am allowed to drink in my room," she says. "And if I need help, then I get it.
"You do not feel good if you do not have a house."
According to official figures, the number of people sleeping on the street in England has increased from 1,768 in 2010 to 4,677 in 2018.
Organizations such as Shelter say that the actual number of people sleeping on the street is much higher. The official figures are based on the number of homeless people counted on the streets one evening each fall.
The success of Housing First has attracted the attention of the UK government, which last year agreed to fund pilot projects in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the West Midlands.
In Wales, several small-scale trials are already underway, some run by the Salvation Army, others by local authorities. Those behind the projects say that the results have been positive so far.
The trials in England should start soon and aim to help the more sleepy heavy sleepers.
But is it a good idea to essentially hand over the keys to housing, with no obligation to give up alcohol or drugs?
"We can see that it works in Finland, so why does not it work here," says Neil Cornthwaite, head of operations at Barnabus Manchester, a charity for the homeless.
Thousands of people sleep on the streets in the UK, according to Shelter, a charity for housing
"There are many barriers to access to housing and some groups of people are excluded from projects because of their addiction and / or mental health.
"So, if we have another option to put people in a house and not just a bed, despite their problems, then I think it's a very positive step forward."
Will it work in the UK? Although the program is considered a success in Finland, it has drawbacks. Homes are not always available immediately and the numbers show that about one in five people return to roaming at some point.
Housing people in this way is not cheap. Finland has spent about 262 million pounds (300 million euros) over the last ten years, providing 3,500 new homes for the homeless and more than 300 new support staff.
The UK government spends £ 28m on the three Housing First programs and hopes to provide around 1,000 homes.
Juha Kaakinen, one of the key architects of Housing First in Finland, believes that it will only work if the UK authorities are fully engaged.
"In many places, Housing First are small projects with a small number of apartments available.You have to make it a lot bigger to end homelessness and for that reason it should s & # 39; 39; act of a national policy, otherwise it would not work. "
Mr Kaakinen suggests that the priority of the UK is to tackle the housing crisis.
The number of people sleeping on the streets in England has increased since 2010
"The main problem seems to be the lack of affordable social housing.To solve the problem of homelessness is something you need otherwise the task will be very difficult."
The Mayor of the Manchester Metropolitan Area, Andy Burnham, is convinced that this solution is the right solution.
"You can not have good health or a good life without good housing," he says.
"I am confident that we will show that housing first can work, and I will ask the government to make it permanent."
Housing and Homelessness Minister Heather Wheeler stresses that the government is listening and taking action.
"No one is supposed to spend their life on the street or homeless.
"And the evidence shows that Housing First is incredibly successful in helping people rebuild their lives."
Sanna Vesikansa, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki
Back in Helsinki, Ms Vesikana, deputy mayor, believes that the fight against homelessness and the end of restless sleep is not only a moral obligation, but can also save money in the long run.
"We already know it pays, because we have expenses elsewhere if people are homeless, they have more serious health problems that are then transferred to emergency care and to the hospital.
"Homelessness and restless sleep are things we simply can not live in our cities, people are dying on the street, it's not the type of society or city we want to live in. live."
[ad_2]
Source link
