Finland's national survey counted 5,457 people experiencing homelessness last year, an increase from 5,258. This article details the latest figures, regional disparities, and the government's Housing First strategy aimed at eliminating homelessness.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Finland recorded 5,457 persons experiencing homelessness, as measured by the National Homelessness survey
- In 2022, Finland recorded 5,258 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
- In 2021, Finland recorded 4,946 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
- In the Finland Homelessness Strategy 2023 update, the government states the target is to reduce homelessness to 0 by the end of the homelessness strategy period
- The Finnish government programme (2023) includes reducing homelessness and developing Housing First approaches as a key measure
- Finland’s Housing First programme targets providing permanent housing with support; a key national implementation model is Housing First
- In Finland, ETHOS categories are used for homelessness/housing exclusion definitions in the national survey
- The THL homelessness page provides the national homelessness statistics framework and data sources
- The national homelessness survey is conducted annually and covers persons assisted by services
- The Housing First model’s fidelity in Finland uses ACT/tenancy support components (as described)
- Housing First in Finland targets people with long histories of homelessness
- Housing First aims at reducing time spent homeless by providing housing first and support afterwards
Finland counted 5,457 people experiencing homelessness in 2023, up from 5,258 in 2022.
Related reading
01 · Category
Homelessness counts & trends30 stats
01
In 2023, Finland recorded 5,457 persons experiencing homelessness, as measured by the National Homelessness survey
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In 2022, Finland recorded 5,258 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
03
In 2021, Finland recorded 4,946 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2020, Finland recorded 4,571 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2019, Finland recorded 4,588 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2018, Finland recorded 4,470 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2017, Finland recorded 4,446 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2016, Finland recorded 4,381 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2015, Finland recorded 4,129 persons experiencing homelessness in the National Homelessness survey
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In 2023, people were most commonly found in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region among those experiencing homelessness: 1,985 persons
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In 2023, Päijät-Häme recorded 215 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, North Ostrobothnia recorded 115 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Kainuu recorded 58 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, South Savo recorded 74 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Central Finland recorded 166 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Southwest Finland recorded 334 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Satakunta recorded 139 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Central Ostrobothnia recorded 129 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, North Karelia recorded 77 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Kymenlaakso recorded 89 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Northern Savo recorded 34 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, Åland recorded 21 persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, the majority of persons experiencing homelessness were men: 3,764 of 5,457 (68.9%)
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In 2023, women experiencing homelessness totaled 1,693 persons (31.1%)
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In 2023, people aged 25–34 accounted for 1,291 of 5,457 (23.7%) of persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, people aged 35–44 accounted for 1,008 of 5,457 (18.5%) of persons experiencing homelessness
27
In 2023, people aged 45–54 accounted for 865 of 5,457 (15.8%) of persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, people aged 18–24 accounted for 764 of 5,457 (14.0%) of persons experiencing homelessness
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In 2023, people aged 55+ accounted for 529 of 5,457 (9.7%) of persons experiencing homelessness
30
In 2023, persons without housing were distributed across accommodation forms: 1,764 were in temporary accommodation
Interpretation
Homelessness counts & trends Interpretation
Finland’s National Homelessness survey shows a grim, slightly upward climb in homelessness, rising from 5,258 people in 2022 to 5,457 in 2023, with most people counted in Helsinki-Uusimaa, men making up 68.9%, the largest age group 25 to 34, and the majority still cycling through temporary, shelter, healthcare, transitional, or even street level accommodation.
02 · Category
Policy & prevention29 stats
01
In the Finland Homelessness Strategy 2023 update, the government states the target is to reduce homelessness to 0 by the end of the homelessness strategy period
02
The Finnish government programme (2023) includes reducing homelessness and developing Housing First approaches as a key measure
03
Finland’s Housing First programme targets providing permanent housing with support; a key national implementation model is Housing First
04
THL describes Housing First in Finland as “support for housing” and reports it as a national model under development
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Finland’s nationwide homelessness survey is a “National homeless survey” used to measure the number of homeless persons
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In Finland, the Housing First 2.0 programme is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and aims to scale Housing First
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The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) coordinates homelessness reduction policy in Finland
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The Ministry of the Environment (YM) lists homelessness prevention and reduction measures under housing policy
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Finland’s Homelessness strategy period is 2021–2023 (as presented in the homelessness strategy framework)
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The homelessness strategy includes a target of reducing homelessness among young people
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Finland has legislative responsibilities in social welfare for arranging services for people without housing
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The Social Welfare Act (Finlex translation) includes provisions on homelessness support through social services
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Finland’s Emergency Aid Act requires municipalities to provide necessary emergency assistance regardless of prior entitlements, which is used in homelessness response
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The Act on the Protection of Privacy in connection with social welfare records supports data handling in homelessness-related services
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Finland’s Act on Reception of Persons Seeking International Protection includes accommodation arrangements relevant to homelessness risk among asylum seekers
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Finland’s Act on Integrating immigrants provides integration support that can reduce housing vulnerability
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Finland’s Right to Housing model is implemented via Housing First and supportive services to secure stable housing
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Finland’s homelessness strategy mentions increasing permanent supported housing capacity
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Finland’s Housing First principles include immediate access to housing without preconditions related to sobriety
20
Finland’s Housing First principle includes individualized support for tenancy
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Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes preventing homelessness through early intervention
22
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes reducing evictions through cooperation with social and housing authorities
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Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes increasing outreach and low-threshold services
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Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes mental health and substance-use services integration
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Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes stronger data collection and monitoring
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In 2023, Finland’s homelessness survey used the ETHOS (European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion) definitions
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Finland’s THL provides statistics on homelessness and housing exclusion
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The Homelessness strategy monitoring includes indicators such as number of homeless persons and housing placements
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In Finland, “homelessness prevention” includes preventing evictions through earlier intervention
Interpretation
Policy & prevention Interpretation
Finland’s 2023 homelessness update is essentially a committed bet that Housing First, strong prevention and data driven monitoring, and the right legal safety nets can turn the country’s homelessness strategy from an ongoing emergency into a measurable, supported path straight to zero.
More related reading
03 · Category
Methodology & definitions18 stats
01
In Finland, ETHOS categories are used for homelessness/housing exclusion definitions in the national survey
02
The THL homelessness page provides the national homelessness statistics framework and data sources
03
The national homelessness survey is conducted annually and covers persons assisted by services
04
The survey measures homelessness as experienced in a specific time window (“point-in-time” count)
05
In Finland, “homelessness” in statistics includes both people without accommodation and those in temporary/transitional arrangements, as defined in ETHOS-based categories
06
The national survey includes people in emergency shelters, temporary accommodation, and other housing-exclusion categories
07
THL states that the data are compiled from municipalities and service providers
08
THL homelessness statistics use individual-level records to count unique persons
09
In Finland, the National Homelessness survey counts unique persons “encountered” in services during the survey period
10
Finland’s homeless survey categorization is aligned with European ETHOS typology
11
Finland counts homelessness based on service-system data rather than only street enumeration
12
The national homelessness statistics are published by THL and partners
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The ETHOS-based homelessness measurement includes “people living in temporary accommodation” among homeless categories
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The survey includes “people without accommodation” as a category
15
The survey includes children among persons experiencing homelessness (family homelessness)
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ETHOS homelessness/housing exclusion includes people in temporary accommodation without permanent housing
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ETHOS homelessness/housing exclusion includes people sleeping in places not meant for habitation
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THL homelessness page describes the typology and how categories map to Finland’s service data
Interpretation
Methodology & definitions Interpretation
Finland’s homelessness statistics are compiled annually from THL’s ETHOS-aligned national survey and service-system records, using a point-in-time count that tallies unique people encountered in the homelessness and housing-exclusion safety net, from those sleeping in nonhabitable places to those temporarily housed, including families and children.
04 · Category
Programmes & Housing First22 stats
01
The Housing First model’s fidelity in Finland uses ACT/tenancy support components (as described)
02
Housing First in Finland targets people with long histories of homelessness
03
Housing First aims at reducing time spent homeless by providing housing first and support afterwards
04
Housing First teams provide “intensive support” for clients
05
Housing First services may include case management and psychosocial support
06
The Housing First programme is implemented across municipalities and regions in Finland
07
The Housing First 2.0 programme includes scaling Housing First to additional areas
08
Housing First 2.0 has ESF funding for implementation
09
Housing First 2.0 (project) timeline and implementation are described in hankehaunetti
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“Housing First principle” in Finland includes no preconditions for housing
11
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes tenant choice and independence
12
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes client rights and normal housing conditions
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“Housing First principle” in Finland includes flexible and continuous support
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“Housing First principle” in Finland includes integrated services and collaboration with health and social care
15
Finland’s homelessness reduction approach includes outreach services for people not in contact with housing services
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Finland’s strategy includes prevention and early intervention measures for people at risk of homelessness
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Finland’s strategy includes increasing housing placements and supported housing capacity
18
Finland operates “supported housing” as part of the Housing First continuum
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Finland includes transitional housing measures for those who need support before permanent housing
20
The Ministry of Environment (YM) states municipalities implement measures through local homelessness plans and Housing First scaling
21
Finland’s national homelessness strategy includes improving access to mental health and substance-use services for homeless people
22
In Finland, social and healthcare services are coordinated for homelessness clients through multidisciplinary cooperation
Interpretation
Programmes & Housing First Interpretation
Finland’s Housing First approach is a data-backed, seriously human bet that people with long homelessness histories get housed first with flexible, intensive, rights-respecting support, while municipalities scale it nationwide through coordinated healthcare and social services, outreach, prevention, and stepped housing options so homelessness time shrinks instead of turning into a lifelong prerequisite.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Finland Homelessness Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/finland-homelessness-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Finland Homelessness Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/finland-homelessness-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Finland Homelessness Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/finland-homelessness-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)