Photo: J2R (Getty Images)
While authorities in England are laying metal spikes and other “anti-homeless architecture” in hopes of deterring people from using the streets as a bed, the Finnish government is using a much more humane tactic to tackle and pretty much end homelessness in their country.
According to Indy100, Finland is the only EU country that currently doesn’t have a massive homelessness crisis on their hands, and how they got to the point where there are almost zero residents living on the streets is nothing short of stunning.
Are you ready for how Finland took care of their fellow countrymen who had fallen upon hard times? Get this – they gave them a home.
It’s called Housing First, where the homeless in Finland are getting not only permanent housing but also “individual support to sort out the issues that have led to the person becoming homeless.” Individuals in need pay rent and are given housing benefits, and if they wind up getting back on their feet and make enough money, those who were given the home and benefits will eventually pay for the help they receive.
Another happy ending: This Homeless Dog Was Covered In So Much Fur He Needed An Emergency Grooming
Sure, a program like this can be an expensive one to get off the ground, but I think nobody said it better than Y-Foundation CEO Juha Kaakinen in terms of what something like this can do for humanity.
“All this costs money, but there is ample evidence from many countries that shows it is always more cost-effective to aim to end homelessness instead of simply trying to manage it,” Kaakinen said. “Investment in ending homelessness always pays back, to say nothing of the human and ethical reasons.”
Great stuff.
