Posted on 03/25/2024 4:59:14 AM PDT by Cronos
he two countries that handle homelessness the best are Finland and Japan. Therefore, we will look at how these two countries have approached homelessness to determine exactly which country handles homelessness best.
Firstly, let's talk about the extent of the situation within each country. In our previous article on which country has the lowest rate of homelessness, Japan was determined as the country with the smallest percentage of people experiencing homelessness in the world, with a rate of 0.003%, which is approximately 1 in every 34,000 people.
Finland was determined to have the 10th lowest rate of homelessness in Europe, with a rate of homelessness at 0.08% on a given night, which is 1 in every 3,925 people. If this is the case, why is Finland placed next to Japan? This is because of how Finland has handled homelessness over the past 30 years.
Statistics on homelessness in Finland show that in 1989 there were roughly 16,000 people experiencing homelessness. Since then, that number has steadily declined to approximately 4,000 people in 2020. This is effectively a 75% decrease in homelessness over 30 years. Finland is also the only EU country that has experienced any decline in the number of homeless reported in the last 10 years.
Firstly, Finland's definition of homelessness is extensive. It includes people who are temporarily staying with friends or family, which is not common among other nations' homelessness statistics.
This brings Finland's low numbers into context but also gives a greater degree of reliability to the interventions they have created – by ensuring the problem is correctly understood. As a result, they would be able to address it most effectively.
Secondly, this success results from innovative solutions and a strategy that has been provided with the necessary resources and driven by the Housing First approach.
The housing first principle, policy or approach, is an ideology originally coined by a Canadian Psychologist named Sam Tsemberis, who proposed that the best way to eradicate homelessness was to give people homes. The notion was approached with scepticism at first and it was argued that more complex contributory factors such as mental health or substance abuse need to be solved first.
Finland, however, sees housing as a fundamental human right that needs to be extended to every homeless person. In 2008, the Finnish government committed to the Housing First policy as part of a drive to end homelessness.
Put simply, the Housing First model is a means to give a person experiencing homelessness a home, a rental or a flat with a contract without any conditions. These people are not required to get a job first, get sober, or make any lifestyle changes - housing is provided first.
The notion goes that once people have permanent housing; they will be able to seek the help they require to improve their lives.
This approach has successfully reduced the number of people experiencing homelessness. Government-partnered nonprofit organisations, such as The Y-Foundation, are integral in making this success. The Y-Foundation CEO, Juha Kaakinen, predicts that this approach will eradicate homelessness by 2027.
Japan is another country that is leading the charge to tackle homelessness. With a 12% drop in homelessness since 2018, Japan's population of people experiencing homelessness is roughly 3,992 people out of a population of 125 million.
Japan's approach is significantly different from Finland's: Japan makes it difficult to be homeless. For example, it is an official law that begging is not allowed and may be deemed a criminal offence. Homeless people are faced with the social prejudice that the cause of one's homelessness is one's responsibility.
Furthermore, the urban architecture of many cities is often designed to prevent people experiencing homelessness from sitting or sleeping on the streets.
Organisations such as the Tsukuroi Tokyo Fund have been making efforts to reduce the current state of homelessness by providing housing and employment to the people experiencing homelessness in Japan, as well as increasing the number of shelters available. Furthermore, they have made an array of social services and support services available to those experiencing homelessness to assist them in the transition to living independently.
The actual state of Japan's homelessness situation has been under scrutiny. However, the invisibility of the homeless, perpetuated by Japan's culture of social etiquette, has led to many of the homeless trying not to be noticed, out of shame, finding their temporary housing off the streets in areas more out of sight.
Furthermore, it has been suggested that the Japanese Government's count of those experiencing homelessness does not consider Japan's "internet café refugees". This term has become a common way of describing those who spend their nights in 24-hour restaurants or internet cafés, often utilising the privacy of booths, showers and laundry services.
In both of these countries, it is clear that two major factors need to be involved to effectively combat homelessness: Governmental strategy and NGO cooperation.
Consequently, the UK, and most of Europe, could take specific note of Finland's approach. The fundamental human rights ideology of housing, the longitudinal governmental strategy towards a solution, the allocation of necessary funds, and the cooperation across multiple levels of society are all required to create a sustainable and effective intervention. Moreover, the effectiveness of this approach is undoubted when considering the notable decline in Finland's population of those experiencing homelessness.
In conclusion, while it may not have the smallest homeless population or the lowest rate of homelessness in the world, Finland is the country that handles homelessness the best. With a marked decrease in homeless statistics and a trajectory towards eradicating homelessness by 2027, Finland's approach is sustainable and effective.
“who proposed that the best way to eradicate homelessness was to give people homes”
I’d say Japan has the right model. Don’t subsidize behavior you don’t want.
“Japan has a lot of homeless. “
Japan back in the early 90’s had many more homeless than now . This was after the economic bubble burst . Almost never see a homeless person these days . BTW - I’ve lived in Japan since 1985 .
7.2M illegals entered the US under Biden admin, an amount
greater than population of 36 states
********
Dem States just trying to catch up and get in the top rankings.
The more people you can count the more hand outs from the feds
come your way. Our tax monies have to go somewhere, be it good
or bad. The recipients are crowing approval and asking for more
from the tax payers. Just keep feeding the beast. JMO
A lot of homelessness comes from drugs which comes from sin which comes from rejection of God
It needs to be understood that:
1. American metropolitan areas are often enormous,
2. road capacity limits housing density,
3. people who pay $600,000 for an apartment are going to be upset if a burger flipper working 28 hours a week gets a near equal apartment for 30% of income,
4. not everyone can live in metro Los Angeles,
5. if paradises were nearly as affordable as hellholes, the people in hellholes would move to paradises and destroy them.
The fifth one is known as the tragedy of the commons. It applies to pastures, cities and even nations.
Homogenious monocultures. People are predominantly of one kind.
Same reason why even their justice systems lack many of the pathologies of ours. Ours is geared to manage the lowest common denominator.
Indeed note the up tic in institutions
Other factors come into play:
1. natural blessing of an area such as:
a. beaches,
b. lakes,
c. mountains,
d. coastal temperature moderation,
2. air transport,
3. no state income taxation,
4. gun laws,
5. insurance availability risk locking out high risk tenants[coastal Florida].
The US is not as big as one might initially think.
My area of Florida is popular. The possible unavailability of property insurance makes being a slumlord very risky.
Do they allow people to steal someone else’s home if the home is vacant for 30 days?
An extended family from out of the country can afford to pay more for housing than a traditional American nuclear family unless the adults in the American nuclear family have well paid jobs.
One can see this displacement in Los Angeles, NYC and suburban DC.
That’s what we used to do. Then liberal, leftist feminists got involved because feelings.
Yeah, Ueno and Osaka Koen park used to be huge blue tarp cities back then.
“ Also, the homeless in Japan are very industrious.”
When I was there, I met a bunch of hobos while viewing cherry blossoms. They said they followed the cherry blossom front as it moved north, eating and drinking the leftovers from the cherry blossom viewing parties. By the time they got to Hokkaido, seasonal agriculture jobs were opening up.
Lack of drugs and a strong social ethic keep the homeless in Japan from being the public burden they are in US cities.
Also not mentioned is that both of these countries have very low birth rates. Tgst probably reduces the number of the potential homeless.
Yeah, there’s a scene in the movie Tampopo when a bunch of homeless break into a kitchen and cook a perfect omelette.
Finland and Japan prove that dealing with homelessness is simple. You can give homeless people homes or you can kill them. Easy.
One question how do the number of homeless addicts in those countries compare to the number in the U.S.?
Thanks for pointing that out.
Finland: Uh, 8 months of winter. That weeds them out right quick. No multi-year homelessness. /joking, sort of.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.