Gitnux/Report 2026

Finland Homelessness Statistics

The latest Finland homelessness count is 5,457 people, up by 199 from the previous year, with men making up 68.9% and the largest age group 25 to 34. See how the problem concentrates most in Helsinki Uusimaa and how Housing First, prevention of evictions, and stronger mental health and substance use support are built into the national response.
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June 27, 2026Updated
Finland Homelessness Statistics
Emilia SantosWritten by Emilia Santos·Edited by Yumi Nakamura·Fact-checked by Astrid Bergmann
Published ·Updated
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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

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 periodhttps://ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
02
The Finnish government programme (2023) includes reducing homelessness and developing Housing First approaches as a key measurehttps://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/government-goals/government-programme
03
Finland’s Housing First programme targets providing permanent housing with support; a key national implementation model is Housing Firsthttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
04
THL describes Housing First in Finland as “support for housing” and reports it as a national model under developmenthttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
05
Finland’s nationwide homelessness survey is a “National homeless survey” used to measure the number of homeless personshttps://www.hel.fi/static/hy/strategia/homelessness/national-homelessness-survey.pdf
06
In Finland, the Housing First 2.0 programme is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and aims to scale Housing Firsthttps://www.hankehaunetti.fi/en/projects/housing-first-2-0
07
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (STM) coordinates homelessness reduction policy in Finlandhttps://stm.fi/en/housing-and-homelessness
08
The Ministry of the Environment (YM) lists homelessness prevention and reduction measures under housing policyhttps://ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness
09
Finland’s Homelessness strategy period is 2021–2023 (as presented in the homelessness strategy framework)https://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
10
The homelessness strategy includes a target of reducing homelessness among young peoplehttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
11
Finland has legislative responsibilities in social welfare for arranging services for people without housinghttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1982/en19820741
12
The Social Welfare Act (Finlex translation) includes provisions on homelessness support through social serviceshttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/1982/en19820741
13
Finland’s Emergency Aid Act requires municipalities to provide necessary emergency assistance regardless of prior entitlements, which is used in homelessness responsehttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2011/en20110045
14
The Act on the Protection of Privacy in connection with social welfare records supports data handling in homelessness-related serviceshttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2015/en20151281
15
Finland’s Act on Reception of Persons Seeking International Protection includes accommodation arrangements relevant to homelessness risk among asylum seekershttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2011/en20111216
16
Finland’s Act on Integrating immigrants provides integration support that can reduce housing vulnerabilityhttps://finlex.fi/en/laki/kaannokset/2010/en20101328
17
Finland’s Right to Housing model is implemented via Housing First and supportive services to secure stable housinghttps://www.hel.fi/en/housing-without-prejudice/housing-first
18
Finland’s homelessness strategy mentions increasing permanent supported housing capacityhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
19
Finland’s Housing First principles include immediate access to housing without preconditions related to sobrietyhttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
20
Finland’s Housing First principle includes individualized support for tenancyhttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
21
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes preventing homelessness through early interventionhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
22
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes reducing evictions through cooperation with social and housing authoritieshttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
23
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes increasing outreach and low-threshold serviceshttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
24
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes mental health and substance-use services integrationhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
25
Finland’s homelessness strategy emphasizes stronger data collection and monitoringhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
26
In 2023, Finland’s homelessness survey used the ETHOS (European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion) definitionshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
27
Finland’s THL provides statistics on homelessness and housing exclusionhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
28
The Homelessness strategy monitoring includes indicators such as number of homeless persons and housing placementshttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
29
In Finland, “homelessness prevention” includes preventing evictions through earlier interventionhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
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 surveyhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
02
The THL homelessness page provides the national homelessness statistics framework and data sourceshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
03
The national homelessness survey is conducted annually and covers persons assisted by serviceshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
04
The survey measures homelessness as experienced in a specific time window (“point-in-time” count)https://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
05
In Finland, “homelessness” in statistics includes both people without accommodation and those in temporary/transitional arrangements, as defined in ETHOS-based categorieshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
06
The national survey includes people in emergency shelters, temporary accommodation, and other housing-exclusion categorieshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
07
THL states that the data are compiled from municipalities and service providershttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
08
THL homelessness statistics use individual-level records to count unique personshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
09
In Finland, the National Homelessness survey counts unique persons “encountered” in services during the survey periodhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
10
Finland’s homeless survey categorization is aligned with European ETHOS typologyhttps://www.ely-keskus.fi/en/web/en/ajankohtaista/-/asset_publisher/9KzC/content/finland-recorded-5-457-persons-experiencing-homelessness-in-2023
11
Finland counts homelessness based on service-system data rather than only street enumerationhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
12
The national homelessness statistics are published by THL and partnershttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
13
The ETHOS-based homelessness measurement includes “people living in temporary accommodation” among homeless categorieshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
14
The survey includes “people without accommodation” as a categoryhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
15
The survey includes children among persons experiencing homelessness (family homelessness)https://www.ely-keskus.fi/en/web/en/ajankohtaista/-/asset_publisher/9KzC/content/finland-recorded-5-457-persons-experiencing-homelessness-in-2023
16
ETHOS homelessness/housing exclusion includes people in temporary accommodation without permanent housinghttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
17
ETHOS homelessness/housing exclusion includes people sleeping in places not meant for habitationhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
18
THL homelessness page describes the typology and how categories map to Finland’s service datahttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/statistics/information-on-topics/homelessness
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)https://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
02
Housing First in Finland targets people with long histories of homelessnesshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
03
Housing First aims at reducing time spent homeless by providing housing first and support afterwardshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
04
Housing First teams provide “intensive support” for clientshttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
05
Housing First services may include case management and psychosocial supporthttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
06
The Housing First programme is implemented across municipalities and regions in Finlandhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
07
The Housing First 2.0 programme includes scaling Housing First to additional areashttps://www.hankehaunetti.fi/en/projects/housing-first-2-0
08
Housing First 2.0 has ESF funding for implementationhttps://www.hankehaunetti.fi/en/projects/housing-first-2-0
09
Housing First 2.0 (project) timeline and implementation are described in hankehaunettihttps://www.hankehaunetti.fi/en/projects/housing-first-2-0
10
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes no preconditions for housinghttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
11
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes tenant choice and independencehttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
12
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes client rights and normal housing conditionshttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
13
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes flexible and continuous supporthttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
14
“Housing First principle” in Finland includes integrated services and collaboration with health and social carehttps://housingfirst.fi/en/housing-first-principles/
15
Finland’s homelessness reduction approach includes outreach services for people not in contact with housing serviceshttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
16
Finland’s strategy includes prevention and early intervention measures for people at risk of homelessnesshttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
17
Finland’s strategy includes increasing housing placements and supported housing capacityhttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
18
Finland operates “supported housing” as part of the Housing First continuumhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
19
Finland includes transitional housing measures for those who need support before permanent housinghttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
20
The Ministry of Environment (YM) states municipalities implement measures through local homelessness plans and Housing First scalinghttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
21
Finland’s national homelessness strategy includes improving access to mental health and substance-use services for homeless peoplehttps://www.ym.fi/en/housing/avoidance-and-reduction-of-homelessness/strategy-to-reduce-homelessness
22
In Finland, social and healthcare services are coordinated for homelessness clients through multidisciplinary cooperationhttps://www.thl.fi/en/web/thlfi-en/-/housing-first-in-finland
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

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Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Finland Homelessness Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/finland-homelessness-statistics
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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

ely-keskus.fiym.fivaltioneuvosto.fithl.fihel.fihankehaunetti.fistm.fifinlex.fihousingfirst.fi

+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)