A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book

Housing First and the reduction of homelessness in Finland among people with substance abuse problems




AuthorsKarhula, Aleksi; Ollonqvist, Joonas; Leni, Elisabetta; Niemi, Veera; Moisio, Pasi

EditorsJani Erola, Pasi Moisio, Johanna Peltoniemi

PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing

Publication year2026

Book title Beyond the Nordic Welfare State. Extending Social Investments with Interventions.

First page 175

Last page206

ISBN978-1-03-537543-1

eISBN978-1-03-537544-8

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.4337/9781035375448.00019

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035375448.00019

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/515628143

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY NC ND

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Finland's response to homelessness is based on Housing First, a comprehensive approach that combines unconditional access to housing, tailored support, and homelessness prevention. The Finnish studies have relied on mixed-methods data, but the use of national level register data has been quite narrow. We analyze the implementation of Housing First programs (PAAVO I, PAAVO II, and AUNE) and their temporal correlations with the number of homeless people with substance use problems, their likelihood of being alive two years after the treatment period, and their housing situation two years after the treatment period. Homeless people with substance use problems are identified from the national registers based on their visits to substance use treatment services. Our results show that the number of homeless people with substance abuse problems has declined during the time of Housing First programs (2008–2017), there has been very little change in their mortality, but a larger share had permanent housing two years after the treatment period.


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Last updated on 02/03/2026 08:56:09 AM