The thought behind creating Vva in 1986 was to get rid of the shelters and make sure that the basic right of housing would be realized for everyone.

In 2008 Finland became the first European country to embrace the Housing First -model, which aims to provide rough sleepers a home as quickly as possible, complete with a personal lease contract that’s permanent and stable. The policy works by phasing out homelessness shelters.

• Permanent housing enables people to live and function independently.

• People can choose how to be involved with services. Giving up intoxicants completely is not required – instead, the approach is one of harm reduction, in a way that respects the person’s autonomy.

• Staff members meet the inhabitants as equals, to build trust and empower them.

• Staff supports each person’s integration into the community and helps them build strong networks.

• Vva still runs housing unit SÄLLIKOTI, with 28 apartments, which was the first piloting project for housing first model in Finland.

Our low-threshold services are aimed at everyone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness. Vepa's activities are open to everyone.

Most of our services are located in Itä-Pasila, Helsinki.  The housing counselor is on call at our organization's office on working days and once a week in Vantaa.

Outreach team with a van
An outreach team Yökiitäjä moves around the metropolitan area. We give advice on homelessness on the phone for people all around Finland.

You can inform the Yökiitäjä staff on duty at night, if you are worried about someone sleeping rough, or if you notice someone whom you believe to be homeless.

Accessibility
Our office's / Vepa's / Kalkkers' entrance has steps. Please contact us and we’ll assist you.

Everyone is accepted into Vepa just the way they are. In Vepa, you can rest, spend time, eat a warm meal, tell about your problems and receive support for the suitable service. Vepa serves a warm meal, coffee, tea and bread. You can wash and dry your clothes. There are a computer and a phone that you can use for running errands.

At Vepa you can contact and reserve an appointment with our housing counselor, to get in contact with a floating support worker and an immigrant specialist. In Vepa, donated clothes are handed out. Peer employees work in Vepa.

Open hours: Mondays to Fridays from 9 AM to 7 PM, except on Thursdays from 9 AM to 2 PM and again from 5 PM to 7 PM.
Vepa is closed in July.

Address: Ratamestarinkatu 6, 00520 Helsinki
Tel. 050 443 1065
vepa@vvary.fi

Night centre Kalkkers is a low threshold crisis spot for the homeless. In Kalkkers you can rest safely, get first aid and some snacks, food, tea and coffee. You can talk about your situation and get help to find suitable services. Kalkkers is open for half a year during the winter time. In Kalkkers donated clothes are handed out. There is also a computer and phone you can use.

Kalkkers does not provide shelter. It offers a warm place to spend the night is for fifteen people regardless of their place of domicile, nationality or  the status of the residence permit. You can get inside also while intoxicated, but the use of substances is prohibited there.

Open times: Monday-Sunday 22-06 (winter season)
Address: Ratamestarinkatu 6 (Itä-Pasila), 00520 Helsinki
Tel. 050 433 1068
kalkkers@vvary.fi

Immigration services are targeted at homeless immigrants, especially when your rights to social security and services are unclear. Our immigration expert helps individually to find out the situation and solutions and guide you to appropriate services. In addition to housing issues, you can learn about your rights to social security and services.

Guidance for migrants:

Heini Puurunen
Tel. +358 44 260 3818
heini.puurunen@vvary.fi

Receptions on Mondays and Tuesdays (not on October 7th, 13th, 14th), on other days of the week by prior arrangement.

Service in: Finnish, English and Bulgarian.

If you are eligible for social security, speak Finnish and you need the services of a housing counselor, contact our housing counselor.

Read more about our low threshold services in Finnish.

Erja Morottaja
Head of Communication
erja.morottaja@vvary.fi,
Tel. +358 44 773 4700

At the end of 2025, there were 4,579 single-person homeless people in Finland. The number of people experiencing homelessness has increased for the second consecutive year, following more than a decade of decline. Street homelessness has risen particularly sharply in the largest cities. A total of 758 people slept outdoors, in stairwells, or in emergency shelters, with the relative increase being highest among long-term homeless individuals.

These figures are based on the Varke Homelessness Survey 2025.

Homelessness is a situation and a condition, not a personal characteristic. It is a societal problem, with underlying causes including inequality, economic fluctuations, population growth, and urbanization.

According to the Finnish Constitution, everyone who cannot secure the basic conditions for a life of human dignity has the right to essential subsistence and care. In addition, the state has a duty to promote everyone’s right to housing.

The right to protection and security is a fundamental human right, and its absence cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

The number of homeless people in Finland has increased sharply, according to Varke’s Homelessness Survey 2025. In November 2025, there were 4,579 single-person homeless individuals, a 20% increase from the previous year. Homelessness has now risen for the second consecutive year, after more than a decade of steady decline.

The increase in homelessness is driven by cuts to social security and housing support, rising living and housing costs, unemployment, and difficulties paying rent.

“Right now, as homelessness is increasing sharply, government decisions seem to be pushing even people with housing into financial distress. Kela requires many low-income individuals to move out of apartments deemed too expensive, even when the difference is only a few tens of euros. Some of these people end up homeless,” notes Jussi Lehtonen, Service Manager at Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry (VVA).

Lehtonen highlights Turku as an example, where about 25% of social assistance recipients live in apartments considered too expensive by Kela, and they are required to move to cheaper housing. However, affordable housing is in short supply. At the same time, the planned reduction in state-supported rental housing from 2027 onward threatens to worsen the situation further.

Homelessness increased in nearly all major cities. Helsinki had the most homeless people, nearly 980, about one-fifth of all homeless in Finland. Significant increases were also seen in Vantaa and Tampere. Long-term homelessness remains concentrated in large cities, and in Helsinki, the number of long-term homeless rose for the first time since 2020.

The growth is especially evident among young people, women, and long-term homeless individuals. In 2025:

• Young homeless people under 25: 761, nearly 40% increase from the previous year

• Homeless women: 1,023, a 24% increase

• Long-term homeless individuals: 1,306, a 28% increase

• Homeless people with an immigrant background: 966, 22% higher than in 2024, representing about one-fifth of single-person homeless

• Homeless men: 3,556, a 19% increase from the previous year

The majority of homeless people temporarily stay with friends or relatives. In 2025, there were 2,945, over 500 more than in 2024.

“Hidden homelessness often remains invisible in statistics because people are outside the reach of services or their housing insecurity is not recorded in registries,” Lehtonen points out.
“Some avoid services because they do not feel safe or suitable for their situation.”

Long-term homelessness numbered 1,306, a 28% increase compared to 2024. Street homelessness has also risen: 758 people slept outdoors, in stairwells, or in emergency shelters, with the relative increase highest among long-term homeless individuals.

According to VVA’s observations, an increasing number of people are sleeping in public or semi-public spaces, cars, and temporary shelters, and both physical and mental health are clearly deteriorating.

“In Helsinki, emergency accommodation spaces have been increased, even providing room during freezing nights. Still, a worrying number of people remain outside these services. We urgently need to understand why people are not using them or are no longer able to accept help,” Lehtonen notes.

Hunger also affects a growing number of people encountered by VVA services, including some with housing.

Cutbacks to preventive services, such as housing guidance, threaten to exacerbate the situation. Housing guidance has proven effective in preventing evictions and homelessness, but cuts jeopardize access to these services and the government’s own goal of eliminating homelessness.

Homelessness is not an individual failure but a result of political choices. It is humanly distressing and socially costly. Homelessness can still be eradicated in Finland, but this requires long-term, responsible housing and social policies, strengthened preventive services, and support for the operations of civil society organizations. Housing is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for a life with dignity.scription