Half-Year Report Published – Y-Säätiö’s Anniversary Year Highlights the Power of Homes

The start of 2025 has been special for Y-Säätiö. It has been 40 years since Y-Säätiö was founded, and the anniversary has provided an opportunity to examine what we have been able to achieve through our long-term efforts and look at the current operating environment. We kicked off the year with the cheerful inauguration of our new facilities in Pasila with our personnel. We celebrated the foundation’s 40th anniversary in March at the Helsinki Music Centre and in our own facilities in great company. We invited various people who have been part of supporting and building Y-Säätiö and its operations: partners, decision-makers and past employees.

We chose the Power of Homes as the theme for our anniversary year. It sums up the essence of what we do. Over the course of its 40-year history, Y-Säätiö has focused on providing apartments – homes – to those in need. Now, we own 19,154 apartments that are the homes of 27,850 people. Homes have an immense power, and it is a privilege to work at Y-Säätiö so that everyone has a home.

The current year has been marked by a rapid change in our operating environment. It is most unfortunate that homelessness is on the rise. In the 40 years that Y-Säätiö has been operating, homelessness in Finland has declined in most years. This worrying turn indicates that the prevention and ending of homelessness require constant effort.

In December, Y-Säätiö moved to new facilities in Pasila, Helsinki. In the new office, all of Y-Säätiö’s Helsinki personnel work on the same floor, which has made everyday work easier. Our digital work environment has also undergone significant changes. In the spring, Y-Säätiö introduced the new Kenno ERP system, and we have been involved in the development of the system right from the start as part of a development alliance. We also launched the redesign of the OmaM2 service, where residents of M2-Kodit can view their rental payments and contact us, among other things.

Early in the year, a total of 106 new rental apartments for M2-Kodit were completed in Kokinniitty, Espoo and Turri, Pirkkala. At the moment, we have 409 apartments under construction. The significance of new construction is emphasized, especially now that the entire industry’s production is at an exceptionally low level. The situation in the construction industry impacts the housing market. For example, in the capital region, there are, exceptionally, vacant rental apartments because supply outweighs current demand. This also affects us and is reflected in our apartments’ decreased occupancy rate.

However, the market conditions do not make things easier for everyone looking for a rental apartment. The general economic situation and changes in housing subsidies lead applicants to look for smaller and more affordable apartments. Furthermore, it is expected that migration to cities will soon increase the competition for available apartments, unless the housing construction slump ends.

The Reputation & Trust study, published this spring, showed that M2-Kodit has improved its reputation and brand recognition. An increasing number of Finns recognise M2-Kodit and Y-Säätiö, and they are both considered trusted and responsible organisations. The results show that people value our long-term work to provide affordable housing and prevent homelessness. A stronger reputation and brand recognition reinforce our position in the rental market and demonstrate that our socially important work is seen and is having an impact.

We still have interesting things ahead of us this year. The anniversary year continues, our construction projects are progressing, and we are actively making a difference in ending homelessness and ensuring affordable housing. Four walls can change a life and, together with our partners, we will continue working to make that the reality for as many people as possible.

Wishing you a wonderful autumn,

Teija Ojankoski
CE