How Some Countries Solved Homelessness—And What the World Can Learn

How Some Countries Solved Homelessness—And What the World Can Learn

Homelessness is often treated as an unavoidable feature of modern life, a sad reality in cities from Los Angeles to London. But that is simply not true. There are countries where homelessness is nearly nonexistent. The key difference? These nations treat housing as a human right, not a commodity. They recognize that the solution to homelessness isn’t complicated—it’s housing.

The Proof: Countries With No (or Very Little) Homelessness

• Finland is the standout example. It is the only EU country where homelessness has been consistently decreasing for over a decade.

• Japan and South Korea have extremely low rates of visible homelessness, thanks to strong cultural values around family support, but also proactive housing and employment strategies.

• Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands offer extensive public housing and supportive services that catch citizens before they fall through the cracks.

Finland’s “Housing First” Model

Finland adopted a radical policy shift: instead of requiring homeless people to get sober, find jobs, or undergo treatment before getting housing, they reversed the model. Housing comes first.

Once housed, individuals receive wraparound services like mental health support, addiction treatment, and job training. Over 80% of people who enter the Housing First program stay housed long-term. Since 2008, Finland has reduced long-term homelessness by over 65%.

Key elements:

• Publicly funded housing units built specifically for Housing First programs.

• Strong coordination between the national government and local municipalities.

• Guaranteed social services tailored to the individual.

What Doesn’t Work (And What Does)

Common failures in high-homelessness countries include:

• Prioritizing shelter over permanent housing.

• Requiring sobriety or employment before offering support.

• Criminalizing homelessness, which deepens poverty cycles.

What works:

• Permanent housing with no preconditions.

• Social safety nets: affordable healthcare, mental health services, and unemployment protection.

• Affordable housing policies: rent control, housing subsidies, and large-scale public housing.

Lessons for the World

1. Political Will Is Crucial: Solving homelessness is not a question of resources—most countries spend billions managing the problem instead of solving it. It’s about prioritization.

2. Prevention Beats Cure: Housing assistance to prevent evictions is cheaper and more humane than emergency responses.

3. Data-Driven Policy: Finland tracks every homeless person and tailors services accordingly. Transparency fuels effectiveness.

4. Systemic Change: You can’t solve homelessness without addressing the broader housing market. Speculative real estate markets make housing unaffordable for many.

Conclusion: Homelessness Can Be Solved

Homelessness is not an inevitability. It is a policy failure. The countries that have nearly eliminated it did so with bold reforms and a simple premise: everyone deserves a home. If others follow suit, a world without homelessness is not just possible—it’s within reach.

🧵 There are countries with virtually no homelessness. How do they do it?

It’s not magic. It’s not luck.

It’s policy.

Let’s break down how nations like Finland solved homelessness — and what the rest of the world can learn. 👇

— Paramendra Kumar Bhagat (@paramendra) June 12, 2025

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