Y-Säätiö works internationally to end homelessness by sharing the lessons of Finland’s Housing First approach and by building partnerships across Europe and beyond. Through cooperation, training and policy development, we support actors working to create lasting solutions to homelessness.
Y-Säätiö promotes effective solutions to homelessness internationally by sharing expertise developed in Finland and collaborating with organisations, researchers and policymakers across Europe.
Our work focuses especially on promoting the Housing First approach and supporting the development of effective homelessness policies. We collaborate with international partners through training, consulting, research cooperation, study visits and speaking engagements.
Our international work includes:
Y-Säätiö is a member of the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), the leading European network dedicated to addressing homelessness. In Finland, other FEANTSA members include the Helsinki Deaconess Foundation, Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry, the Finnish Youth Housing Association (Nuorisoasuntoliitto) and the Residents’ Association (Asukasliitto).
Together with FEANTSA, we founded the Housing First Europe Hub in 2016. Since then, the Hub has grown to include more than 45 organisations, cities, government ministries, housing providers and researchers from across Europe and beyond. The Hub promotes Housing First as the first and central response to homelessness through advocacy, training, research, policy support and communication.
In 2023, Y-Säätiö also established the Nordic Homelessness Alliance. The alliance strengthens cooperation between Nordic countries with similar welfare systems. Its long-term goal is to eradicate homelessness across the Nordic region and develop a globally leading model for ending homelessness.
Finland has made significant progress in addressing homelessness through long-term national programmes and strong cooperation between the state, municipalities, NGOs and housing providers.
A key element of Finland’s approach is the Housing First model — providing permanent housing as the first step rather than temporary accommodation. This model has helped improve housing stability and support people with complex needs.
Across much of Europe, homelessness services still rely heavily on temporary shelters or dormitory accommodation. Housing First initiatives have often remained small-scale pilot projects without strong national coordination. The Housing First Europe Hub was created to strengthen cooperation, knowledge sharing and policy development across Europe.
The European Union also supports homelessness work through strategic tools and funding mechanisms. In Finland, the Homelessness Prevention Programme (AUNE) was partly supported by the European Social Fund (ESF). European funding instruments help countries develop and implement effective social policies to prevent poverty and homelessness.
Nordic Homelessness Alliance brings together key actors in homelessness work from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Finland is internationally known for its long-term commitment to reducing homelessness. Over the past decades, the country has developed a systematic and collaborative approach that focuses on permanent housing as the foundation for stability and wellbeing.
A practical guide to providing homes for those in need: The story of Y-Säätiös work.
A handbook on Finland’s Housing First model for professionals and policymakers.
Homelessness in 2030 is a book with essays from leading researchers around the globe.