American reacts to How this EU nation SOLVED Homelessness 

I am from Finland, most home look like this here. I think people consider humanity over money here. Apartment buildings are cleaned and managed by the some companies.

I'm Finnish, a couple of comments about this video: how people pay their rent, it is because everyone here can get some social benefits that cover the minimum costs of living. If someone here literally has zero income, that's either because they haven't bothered to apply for the benefits or don't know how to. That's the sort of thing that the people who work at these places can help them with. As for the visuals in this video, I think it uses a lot of stock footage and some of it doesn't even seem to be from Finland. The apartments where people with addictions live don't usually look this nice, their homes are much more of a mess. These housing units probably require that the tenants maintain a certain level of hygiene so that they aren't literally attracting rats etc, but that's not much. The "UFO" at the end is the dome of the Temppeliaukio Church, it is an underground church hewn in stone.

We pay a lot of taxes in Finland but I think it's worth it. And actually majority of Finnish people are 'happy tax payers' according to surveys. This is a humane way of solving this problem. And it lessens criminality and other problems. I always remember that there was once a dirty old drunk in a same tram with. He kept talking how he gets warm porridge, two pieces of bread and two glasses of milk for few euros in his housing complex. He was so content and happy. It really made my day listening to him. I really felt myself a happy tax payer.

In Finland if you do not have permanent address (i.e. couch surfing, temporary shelters, etc) you are counted as homeless. There are only a handful of people living in the street anymore. Also, they get social security, so they can use that to pay the "rent" until they get their shit together.

I’m not from Finland, but the Netherlands, and I got back on my feet in a system that was part like that housing first thing. What they did were I was; is try to get you back in a normal dayroutine, and get help for addiction (if that applied) and help you sort out your paperwork. You’d pay rent to stay there (but that got taken from your welfare payment before they paid you, so you can’t miss a payment), but you’d have breakfast, lunch, dinner there, your own, or a shared room. They’d often want you to volunteer somewhere, so you do something with your day. It wasn’t nearly as miserable as a lot of shelters I’ve seen online in other countries. Still, stuff happened there… a lot of crazy stories I got from there. And the housing part is possible because social housing firms here (or at least the one in my area), have a quota of houses reserved for people to get out of a shelter and back into normal housing. You go through a different process to get housed; because homeless people cost the local municipality way too much. And in that way, they’re saving money, just like they do in Finland. I’ve also seen people fail that system; because they just didn’t want people to interfere with their life. They wanted to keep drinking, doing other substances, live their own dayroutines. I guess, in part, homelessness is willing to change your situation, but I also think, that it relies on good access to every aspect of life to get back on track. And as an outsider, I hear a lot of stories where even people not battling with addiction, are struggling with making ends meet; even more so in a country like the US. It’s barely an incentive to get back on track, because you’re set up to fail again eventually.

The "Housing first" came actually to us in Finland from the US! They tried it there, but gave up (too soon?). I remember from my youth, talking to guys living in tents and cardboard shelters asking them how they survive the winter. All said they sneak into a bigger house complex and sleep under the stairs. Everyone knew where to go when it went under -10 C. Sadly some guys never made the whole winter. Now those tents are totally gone. Haven't seen them in over 30 years. I'm proud that we can take care of the least fortunate in our society.

The USA has masses of land what it also has is a huge population of people who don't give a shit about anyone else but themselves...they can't seem to see beyond their own needs and don't consider the benefits they would also receive in a more balanced society...hence the lack of real support for a universal healthcare system or a better welfare system. It's a strange mindset of 'why should they get that, when I can't ' , well maybe it's because they need it more?! If we support the weakest then the world as a whole gets stronger. 🙁✌🇬🇧

As someone who lives in homeless acoomidstion, having been given a large apartment by the government I have an incentive to keep it clean as I don't wanna be back on the street and I don't wanna live in filth. One is ment to respect thier surrounding and that is very much understood. I'm in England, and here to be homeless for more then a month you have to want to be there, the help is avaliable, some just choose not to take it. Our system here seems to be working rather well :3

Finland has a constitutional right to social security. Basically to pay the rent they need to apply for the benefits that cover the rent.

Homelessness is not a problem in America. It's part of the system in the US. It is kind of wanted. Who would work under your working conditions and all the rest of it, no health insurance and so on, if there would not be homelessness as sword floating over your head.

People who are calling out the homeless through drink or drugs forget that a lot of them are a failure of the government to look after war veterans properly or they slip through the system with the PTSD showing up later, this is very hard to treat and in England their are a few genuine charities that can help them.

Around 10:30 - per capita it makes a HUGE difference. Finland: 3 400 homeless people / 5 600 000 people = 0.6 homeless per 1000 people USA: 650 000 homeless people / 340 000 000 people = 1.9 homeless per 1000 people You have about 3 times as many homeless people per capita.

I imagine that with people off the street, there would be less crime, vandalism, litter, shop lifting, mugging, police intervention, to name a few, as well as improved economy and even tourism. If a place is pleasant and safe, people will visit. It benefits the homeless and the non homeless.

Finland is now the happiest country on earth for the 7th year in a row ❤❤

In the US: As many as 40%-60% of people experiencing homelessness have a job

What i think is missed from the Finish way is the very strong support they attempt to provide to homeless people to get them out of their situation whatever that is. Other videos have leaned more than just a single reference to this, and i think this is the main reason that is working in any effect. also regarding the comparison to the shelters, keep in mind that there is a huge difference having a place to sleep SOME NIGHTS compared to a place that you can call home and feels like that with the safety it provides, including mental safety.

Imagine waking up under some bridge, or in a tent, and then going to job!!! Yes, that is absolutely correct, you do need place to stay to solve some things...

I saw a video about the work of Finnish social workers in connection with the housing first program. Very empathetic people, actually not all apartments were clean (the stairwells are cleaned by a company). At that time, many people lived in normal apartments for the first time in their lives and they had no idea what housekeeping or cleaning was, or how to handle the garbage, how to organize their tasks related to the apartment, and therefore it was an amazing mess and dirt sometimes. But the social workers explained that this is not the point, because these people just need time and patience, the point is that they themselves are fine, working, studying, recovering, heal etc.

If America spent as much on helping people as it does on harming people, you'd be on to a winner!

Well done, Finland!

I live in the penthouse of a skyscraper overlooking the sea in the middle of Helsinki on basic social benefits that anyone can get. Used to work in IT before I got a huge burnout. Now the benefits pay for therapy, meds and even sauna and on TOP of that I get over a grand a month for rent and bills and food. I love our system ❤

Greetings from Finland ❤🧡💛

I guess the money that guys like Jeff Bezos own alone would already be enough to give everyone a roof over the head. But hey .. its more important that these guys can compete who has the biggest Yacht.

But if you solve Homelessness, how do you scare the shit out of the middle class ? Make them show up at those jobs...

wonder what happened in the US in 2016 for the homelessness to start rising...

You always have an "income" which is called simply cash benefits from the social security in Finland to pay that little rent and basic living, that's one of the reasons why we pay taxes here (a lot). If you're a citizen and become unemployed, you get sick etc, you're entitled to receive them. It's not a perfect system but you're never on nothing basically.

Also Finland is a homogenous country. They don't have masses of illegals swarming their border.

Homeless is measured differently in many countries. In the UK you are considered homeless if you are staying with family, are in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing. The local councils have Duty of Care to house you. There are people that choose to be homeless. The Gov also cover the rent for those on low income, unemployed, disabled etc. These homes are given to you for life as long as you don't break basic rules. You can decorate it and treat it as your own but the Gov are responsible for all the maintenance.Many people take care of the houses they are given because they feel lucky to have been given one.

In Germany, no one needs to be homeless. Some chose to live that way, but housing is covert for everybody

I can't imagine why people would leave mean comments. You're the least offensive person on RU-vid

I think you paused twice during the sentence that explained most of the questions you had, the sentence was (roughly) "And have a strong social system", in finland (all of the nordics really) you have decent unemployment and sick benefits, as well as methods to subsidize housing (the homeless are put in rental btws, they don't get to own them). The point of the finnish system is to a large part to get the homeless "into the system" - which means they will have regular contact with offers of work-training, education, mental healthcare, healthcare, and social workers. (Do note that in the nordics there are only a minimal (and lowering) stigma to seeing mental healthcare, and both mental and physical healthcare is fairly cheap (or price capped on an annual basis)) Or put another way - the housing is mainly to remove lots of the dispair and uncertainty, and then keep them in touch with the services that can help up until they either reach the workforce, or at least are like any other that got an early retirement due to medical issues. The real quesiton is - why doesn't the rest of the nordics implement this model? (since they have the social structures in place to actually be able to pull this off if they gave it a proper (long-term) go)

First you need a government that cares at all about helping and protecting its citizens, all its citizens. Then you need a government that doesn't spend all its funding on maintaining armed forces bigger than the ten next biggest militaries in the world put together. Then you need to raise more funding by actually taxing the people who are most easily able to pay. Then you need to stop the richest people and corporations from lobbying for preferential treatment. Then you need to stop employers from exploiting their employees. Then you need to have a decent school system so that people can bemotivated to learn how to think, how to analyse, how to learn. Then you need... etcetera, etcetera. So I'm saying treat the disease don't just put a bandaid on the symptoms and wonder why it doesn't make anything better.

It is not a question of saving money in the US by solving the homeless problem, it is a question of loosing profit for all the players other than the homeless themselves of course.

As the narrator in the video said, there are social workers and doctors to help these people. So their job is to help these homeless people to maintain that apartment and take care of themselves. Sure, the apartments wont look like the girl in the picture, but it aint a drughole either. The basis of all of this is to take care of our ppl. I have seen these drug addict videos from US and I always think, that how can "normal" people just walk by, day after day? How do you, americans, shut your eyes from that? And that half million homeless, why dont you do something about it? Dont walk by. Its a million in few years. Then you say again, its too big. Years go and the issue grows. Shia LaBeouf says it right. JUST DO IT!!!!

Because greed and wealth are allowed to buy houses. Because good investment. Then they rent it out and charge anything they want. People that are able to buy a house often can’t because there are not enough. Capitalism and the free market are one part of the problem. Drug abuse is criminalized in the US and not treated as a disease first.

I saw on the Doctor Phil show that some politicians suggested the sollution was to make homelessness illegal in America......the lack of empathy just boggled me.

Capitalists: USA = reality / people over profit = fairytale land Reasonable people: USA = dystopian nightmare / people over profit = how is that even a question? Thanks for leaning towards #2

Addiction in itself is not what makes addicted people not keeping their home clean, it is rather the feeling of being forgotten by the society, being looked down upon, not getting a chance to get back to a real life that causes so many other problems for them and essentially leads to them not even care about cleaning or other things that don't really matter anymore stigma is really the biggest problem that many face, they know that just because they are addicted or homeless they won't get a job(because of stigma) or a home(because of bad economy) and even if u have a job and home, getting out of addiction is very hard, but if u don't have that stability, very hard becomes extremely hard I think why this project works in Finland is because people are ok with tax money going to help the entire nation.. all these who get off the streets will feel thankful and do a lot more to pay back to the society in form of taxes But u are right, the US is spending so much on military that it probably is not even possible there, Finland has not been in war in 84 years and are probably using a much higher percentage of the tax income for productive things for the people

In Hungary, the Hungarian grovement just maked "illegal" to live in the street... real solution not have. But the police make fine the people if you live in the street, so the people just "hides away" (mostly in forrest or abandoned buildings) when live there... Thanks hungarian grovement for this "solution" ...

well, I can say that UK certainly have not solved homelessness at all. It is a real issue and incresing rapidly during our economic downturn.

A person sleeping in the streets is costly for the community. Lending them a small unit that has been paid 20 years ago is nothing as far as money goes & preserving dignity prevents a lot of follow up problems. Homelessness costs a lot in just cleaning the streets, police & healthcare. I've read a lot about "shelters" in the US & they are awful. Dirty, drug usage, theft is chronic... I'd rather sleep in a tent in the woods with grass under my head. There's also the charity business problem & the abhorrent building codes. Why all the hate for buildings with small studios that a lot of people living alone would need & could afford? I feel like N America is at the moment ultra predatory of its own citizens & it's not sustainable in the long term. I wish for everyone involved that this will change.

Does Finland pay their unemployed through social security? Australia does. We also have homeless people who have a job but can’t afford the rent. Also, we have widows with children who live in their cars because they can’t keep up the payments on the family home. It’s not all drugs in Australia.

The funny thing about military spending... it seems that US military costs per capita have been staying around 2000 USD. And while FInland is small, our military budget is about 1000 USD per capita. But this is just the direct costs, it does not take into account the losses of production, taxes and such due to the conscription (mandatory for males, voluntary for females) which last between 6 to 12 months. So the true costs of finnish military might not be that far off from the US ones.

In Germany, too, there is almost no homelessness (in the American sense). However, our figures are high because we count refugees in shelters and anyone without a fixed abode as "homeless" in the statistics, even though virtually no one sleeps outdoors under bridges or in tents.

It's also really good that the homeless in Finland practically don't live on the streets. 👍🏻

have a look at this video on the subject. it has interviews with people housed by the program, people working in the program and some politicians. "Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (Spoiler: It's More Than Housing First)" by "Invisible People"

What is mind blowing isn't the extend of the homelessness problem in the US. Rather, the extend of politicians unwillingness to actually even attempt to solve the issue, is the mind blowing part.

From Invisible People new study finds 53% of homeless people in America are employed. Not your so called guess of 98% unemployed, secondly, regulation and inspection is not a bad idea for checking on people, hence they have a support and monitoring system. The old adage of "invest in your people and you will be repaid 10 fold", the more you take off the street the more money you have coming into your economy and the knock on effect is the cost of living comes down for all.

Finland has a robust welfare system, if you cannot obtain employment, your welfare would cover your rent. It is similar in the UK, I was homeless, you spoke with the council, they helped you with your benefits and found you temporary accommodation and to find permanent housing. They will help you find employment if you ask, they can help you with mental health services, addiction services, budgeting advice, care services if you are unable to take care of yourself, help to find a GP or a dentist and getting your health in order (Brits generally have better teeth than Americans because dentistry is more accessible, the stereotype is wrong), there is a robust system to protect you from being on the street (although the current government is doing their best to dismantle it!)

Homelessness has been recorded in Finland since 1987, when there were almost 20,000 homeless people in Finland. In 2023, there were more than 3,400 homeless people living alone in Finland. About 30% of them were long-term homeless. The number of homeless people decreased from the previous year by approximately 260 people, the long-term homeless accounted for 115 of the decrease. The number of homeless families, women and young people also decreased from the previous year.

Considering the amount of real-estate y'all have, you shouldn't really have a housing problem!

We look up at Finland as an example to follow. Its very nice.

Finland doesn't really attract migrants due to its climate, except maybe from Russia. In my neighborhood, we have dozens of migrants from Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan.

Hawaiian natives are the ethnic group in the Us that is suffering the most of homelessness (in relation to their size, not in absolutes of course). Why that is should be pretty obvious. You took their land and made too expensive to live there for them without giving them any kind of extra credit so that they have a chance to stay in their homeland. It’s getting worse even. Private golf courses everywhere in Hawaii, rich people buying all the land, the fire in Maui, new hotels everywhere. New Zealand is a good comparison here because the Maori are from the same origin as the Hawaiian people and the colonialism was similar for them. Yet in NZ they get lots of benefits as reparations and they can basically live off of them without working (which has downsides too) but that’s basically the total opposite of what the US is doing to the natives.

I remember in college,many years ago, my Political Science professor mentioned that Ronald Reagan said that people are homeless because they like living outdoors. I did not believe him, until I looked it up for myself. Historically, so much of the homeless problem is the result of a lack of understanding and caring by people that should know better. It's a steep uphill battle, but I'm glad to see some progress being made.

All European countries have social security which covers basic needs rent is usually approximately 10 percent of the payment everyone gets ,

Point isn't just give them home. You HAVE to give them support as well. He did said that usually they house few hundred homeless at one place, an they have professionals there as support

... and the US does what?

One of the reasons why there is a focus on housing is that Finland used to be poor in the past and as a small country can't afford to lose citizens to homelessness. The winters are also really cold... No sleeping in cars in Finland! Finland also has homeless shelters for emergency situations, and anyone asking for help is referred to a social worker.

It's difficult to understand the American mind. I have experienced it many times. You tell them that we save a lot of money by giving people a home and they will always ask who's paying for that, as if the information just doesn't reach them. Cutting costs does not mean paying more. It means paying less. I've been frustrated by this many times. Reduction in crime and violence is simply good for everyone, but not least financially. Because crime is extremely expensive.

At 24:22 it's Temppelinaukion Kirkko. A church excavated under the Granite rock. One of the place tourist visiting.

Awesome Work Bro , Thanks Greetings from Helsinki, Finland🇫🇮🇺🇸

In Finland, you pay the rent by obtaining other social support. The maximum the state will pay directly for rent is 80%. The other 20% comes from the living allowance money you get from another socila service support source. If you do not pay the rent, social services will step in and help you budget the living allowance money you get, and even help you apply for an increas, if needed.

if you already presume homeless people wouldnt be able to clean their own place, you dont even give them a chance. a place thats your own is very different to some corner on the street where police could drive you out at any moment.

When you were talking about the girl in the flat you were asking if a flat would stay like that, so clean etc. You may have forgotten that earlier they were saying it is not just giving them a flat, they also have onsite managers / help / support. Also when you give people REAL hope, then you also encourage them to CARE, they can develop a sense of pride in themselves. It is not just a physical thing, providing a home, a base. It helps people to develop a purpose. Sure not everyone would be affected that way. There would always be some who find it difficult, especially those with mental health issues. That is where the onsite support is so important. It is not just about numbers, reducing the bad numbers. It is about people, it is about treating the citizens of your country with respect despite their circumstances. It is about being a civilised, evolved society. Unlike a lot of countries where it is all about money and selfishness. What can they do for me attitude, instead of what can I do for my fellow human beings.

The UFO is pretty cool looking Temppeliaukio Church, I love the copper disk ceiling there ❤

A Finnish person here, working in social services. Yes, Housing First has been a success and largely supported in Finland. It is even supported by the political right because it's proven to save public money in the end. One reason is if common health problems like diabetes are not treated, these people end up in the emergency room and that becomes very expensive. Few of them ever become ordinary taxpayers, but it's a win to get them off the streets. Housing is not enough though, side services (social, health) have to be available, they need support on many levels. Here's a video on the housing units, the residents and employees being interviewed: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0jt_6PBnCJE.htmlsi=PFhH-vzSzjU2DbFj

"Homeless people move up through different levels, they are expected to stop drugs and get treatment for mental health problems and permanent housing is final reward." Ryan: "I mean that sounds logical." "There is a deep rooted idea that homeless people should deserve housing instead of just getting it." Ryan: "That was kind of a weird way to say it. He's saying that homeless people don't deserve the housing if they don't work for it." I know you are not one of those people, but that just caught my attention :D Great vid once again.

You should watch ”The Americas with Simon Reeve” Season 1 Episode 3 ’California’ preferrably at your own time and possibly make a video about it afterwards. I knew homelessness was an issue in the U.S. but that episode was very eye opening to me and I believe all U.S. citizens would benefit from seeing it. Also I’m a Finn btw. I don’t remember if it was in this episode or some other documentary that revealed to me a prominent less-known reason for homelessness/living in motels: basically if you ever even once for one reason or another end up defaulting on a loan, it will end up showing in your personal credit report for about 7 years(?), even if you were to correct it/make it up/pay up what you owe, the default will stay there for 7 years. And what this means is that you could be/are black listed by banks for 7 years and it makes it almost impossible to be able to attain another loan for example a new home as now banks won’t give you anything as long as you’re ”black listed”. Or something of the sort. Not really sure though so…. Do some research, look into it, don’t trust a random stranger in the internet👍🏻.

5,5 million people in Finland. I really think we still have a common sence. It is easier in a small country. Btw Finland is 7th year a row happiest country in the world. And we do have lot of problems but also lots of trust in our society.

Amazing country. I hope to visit one day.

it's not only FINLAND all so the Netherlands and the rest of EUROPE. have shelters for homeless people. Too much honor for FINLAND. !!!

Solving homelessness isn't a difficult thing to do in developed countries, but there needs to be the political and public will to want to solve that, clearly in Finland there is, and looking at the success Finland is having with it, it wouldn't surprise me if other European countries follow through on that idea, especially considering that most European countries have a strong social net in place, but it usually takes one to lead by example, something Finland is doing and eventually others will follow, probably starting with the northern European countries before spreading to other European countries. As for the US, the ideology and the political system wouldn't allow this to work, so never say never but it seems highly unlikely in the US any time soon, whereas in other European countries, I can see similar ideas to the one Finland is using over the coming decades, each country being different so they can approach it in a different way to get similar results. Also, if I recall, I think European countries have far fewer homeless people than the US and far fewer people in poverty, with I think the UK having some of the highest in Western Europe, which wouldn't surprise me as the US is like a cross between Europe and America, with some of the good and bad aspects of both. We should also remember that solving homelessness could reduce crimp and boost economic growth, if there is a risk of homelessness, you're more likely to get desperate and turn to crime, if you are in a stable environment that you can get yourself back on your feet, you're more likely to be a productive member of society, many people become homeless or in deep poverty because of other factors that are out of there control, it could be from losing there job, could be bad luck and many other factors, and you do have to wonder how many people turn to crime out of desperation because things in there life are going out of control. At the end of the day, respect from the system can go a long way with the people to want to change for the better, we see this with prisons, the US treats them like animals and they end up lashing out, re-offending and causing trouble, I bet a lot of those people wouldn't behave like that if the system showed them more respect and care, so the underline problem is, fix the problem to allow people that need help to get it and allow them time to get back on their feet.

Who could possibly leave you a mean comment? Outrageous!

That ”UFO” in the end was the roof of the underground church imbedded and carved out of the mountain. It’s called ”the Cliff Church”

I'm from Australia and we have a lot more homeless especially after COVID a lot were evicted or lost their jobs so ended up homeless and it's so hard. 😢

He says it saves the government 15k a year providing this. It does not cost anything, it SAVES MONEY. doing it this way gives your government more money to go to war, not less. Solving homelesness would be just some random side effect.

If the USA helped the homeless, fixed the infrastructure, provided healthcare, fixed social security, how would we keep the war machine going? Politicians depend on the kickbacks and bribes to support their hedonistic life styles. There is no money to be made fixing problems, there is plenty of money in keeping problems going.

When I ended up homeless is was not anything to do with drugs or drink it was lack of a job and landlord wanted me out with two young kids as my landlord I first rented off sold the property and the new landlord know my tenancy was coming to an end and gave me less the two weeks to find somewhere else

It doesn't get out of hand cause of winter temperatures can go below -25C and most homeless would just die off.

Many of your comments are so alien to us in the Nordic countries.

In Finland the criteria for being homeless is not similar to other countries - they just not include anyone who sleeps rough, but also include all who sleep at a shelter, or on a sofa at their friend's or otherwise don't have a secure home with a predictable contract, etc. You are not homeless if you rent a small home and it is safe and secure. (Very few people sleep rough in tents or in staircases or in abandoned buildings or garages anymore. In the early 80's it still occasionally happened, that somebody died of cold in such conditions, and some made petty crimes to get into a prison for the winter - a huge shame, and people felt really bad about it, and voters forced reforms and a change.)

Finland is about the size of Wisconsin in America.5.5 to 6 million people. Homeless in Wisconsin a little under 5000.

Ryan, after you said the biggest cause of homelessness in America is probably drugs, I looked up what Australia's is. It's domestic violence, which makes me mad. I know in the last few years, the government said they were going to put more money, strategies, etc, into DV. I don't know how much more. I have seen adverts on tv.

I think Denmark has something similar. I met a young Danish guy new months ago and he expressed a real hate for homeless people and beggars. We were so surprised until he told us that they basically solved the homelessness, so the only people, that want to be homeless, stay homeless.

Question of political will and a society that has social democratic values (taxation, benefits etc).

If the three wealthiest people in America, paid 90% tax on capital gains. You could end homelessness.

This is common in Northern Europe - Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. This has been done because it is nationally profitable. People can lose their jobs or have their finances destroyed over a period of time, and then the State ensures through social solutions the right to cover normal housing, electricity, internet and food. These countries have low unemployment and cannot afford for people to fall outside the system and therefore lose the opportunity to get back on track. This is a reasonable insurance that they do not start with other drugs or alcohol that would cost the same State 3-10 times as much money every single year.

Americans prepare for a shock. ... this policy was thought through and implemented by Conservative politicians.

In Germany people who don't have work are guaranteed an apartment paid by the state. There are still some who don't want to and end up in the street. But there are more who take the apartment and money and never plan to go work again. That sucks. 😢

In Australia, many homeless people choose to be homeless and independent! All people receive a govt income and there are several organisations, charitable and private, who try to help them with all their needs regardless of the reason! We have housing associations of all kinds and varied accommodation options, yes in earlier times these properties were not maintained and were all placed together, but now they are located all through the suburbs giving the residents more access to normal daily society! It's tougher now because of higher mmigration and demand, but I believe our welfare policies work overall! It is very expensive to build social housing in Australia because of high import costs and wages but "camps" are not an acceptable option! 🤔

I have a friend who works as a psychologist in a housing first here in Italy. It seems to work from what she's told me, they are helped a lot by the social operators, it's not like here's a house bye. They visit them every day and help them with their struggles. They often also work in some kind of project that gets them some cash for food, rent and others. They do stuff like gardening in public parks, cleaning public toilets and roads, they help with city's events and also have a shop that repairs bikes of the local university's students and citizens for quite cheap. I think it is a very good idea because they're blended in the community all the time and both them and others recognise a value in what they're doing.

It is pretty genius. Give homes to homeless people = no homeless people. As long as there are people who are willing to work to pay for other people's housing, medical care, utilities, food and whatnot, why even bother...

10 mins in and we're back to nah it can't happen here in america just wont work. how do you know lmao

America has better GDP per capita. There is really no excuse why US cannot deal with homelessness using the same approach as Finland. It is not an economic problem, it is a political problem.

Finnland: 'Lets try something different.' US citizen 'We are bigger and more people we just use the not working solution that we ever used'

Ive said this before and ill say it again. In Finland its virtually impossible to be homeless if you dont chose it yourself. If you dont have a job in Finland you will get something around 650euro per month. And if you cant affor an apartment the state will pay 80% of it.

What's important here is that it's worth it for the state to get these people off the streets, the state "earns" €15,000 from each one. The state and we all have MORE money afterwards. I don't think the Americans can be convinced by this simple logic

In Finland, mostly all bottles and cans (made for drinking) have deposits on them. So many poor or homeless collect bottles from the streets to make some extra money. In summertime, if you are proactive, some of the collectors (many aren't homeless) can maybe make as much as couple of hundred euros a day collecting the bottles and cans from parks etc. where people are sitting and drinking outside, and the leaving the bottles to be collected. You should of course pay taxes from the bottle money. But let's be honest, no-one really pays anything from that ever, homeless or not.

"Now, does that work?" Yes, actually. The countries aiming for communism never achieved it, but they did manage to eliminate homelessness and provide housing for all (using the GDR for reference here, just because it's closest to me personally).