The Y-Foundation is closely involved in the national programme to end homelessness. See our co-development platform and projects linked to the programme.

Cooperation Programme to Halve Homelessness 2020–2022

• The key objective is to strengthen the homelessness work of local authorities through the use and development of social services by allocating more affordable housing for people at risk of homelessness
• Municipalities set up cooperation networks at local level
• Homelessness work will be established as part of the core activities of municipalities

More info from the Ministry of Environment

Development operations and projects managed by Y-Foundation

Housing First Development Network

The Housing First Development Network is a network of organisations in housing-related social work. The operations are funded by the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations STEA.

The Housing First Development Network develops practices for preventing homelessness in an extensive network of partners. The development work is performed by arranging training, seminars and shared development and learning forums concerning housing-related social work.

The Housing First Development Network is a close network of partners, including cities and member organisations involved in homelessness prevention work. The activities of the Housing First Development Network are coordinated by Y-Foundation.

In addition to Y-Foundation, the Housing First Development Network includes the following parties:

• Helsinki Deaconess Foundation
• Sininauhasäätiö
• No Fixed Abode
• Rauman Seudun Katulähetys ry
• The Salvation Army
• Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland ARA
• Criminal Sanctions Agency

Contact persons:
Lead Coordinator Juha Kahila, tel. +358 (0)20 7020 372
Coordinator Juha Soivio, tel. +358 (0)20 7020 357
firstname.lastname@ysaatio.fi

The One of Us Project

The One of Us project is a project coordinated by Y-Foundation that addresses issues related to loneliness and inequality. The three-year project (2020–2022) is active in Lahti and East Helsinki. In East Helsinki, particular attention is paid to men.

The project is funded by the Funding Centre for Social Welfare and Health Organisations STEA.

The main objective of the project is to relieve the loneliness experienced by people living in Y-Foundation’s rental apartments. Project workers meet people experiencing loneliness and plan meaningful activities with them, introduce them to different activities and hobbies and help them to get involved. We hope the people involved experience empowerment in their networks and resources and have an increased sense of purpose in their lives.

Our goal is to make the people involved in the project feel less lonely and, instead, feel that they are one of us.

More information about the project

Contact persons:
Senior Planning Officer Maria Degerman, tel. +358 (0)20 702 0264
Project Associate (Helsinki) Ina Laine-Salaja, tel. +358 (0)20 702 0382
Project Associate (Lahti) Sanna Tasanko, tel. +358 (0)20 702 0277
firstname.lastname@ysaatio.fi

The Venda project

The Venda project aims to strengthen the social inclusion, functional capacity and educational and working life skills of young adults living in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The young people are supported through marine coaching, adventure pedagogy and guidance support methods.

In addition to the sailing experience, Venda provides participants with individual support to start an independent life, such as housing, education and job search. At the same time, they will be part of an active youth community where activities are planned throughout the year.

The sailing trips on Kuunari Helena are aimed at young adults aged 18-29 living in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area who are without a job, school or looking for a new direction in life. Participation is free of charge.

The two-year project (2021-2023) is implemented by Valo-Valmennusyhdistys ry as the main project partner and by Y-Foundation and Sail Training Association Finland as the sub-project partners. The project is funded by the European Social Fund.

Read more on the Venda project website

Contact person:
Project Coordinator Ella Provialer, tel. 020 7020 365
firstname.lastname@ysaatio.fi

Finished projects

NEA project ─ Securing Housing for Women

The Y-Foundation co-ordinated the STEA-funded NEA project, Women specificity in Homelessness work in 2018–2020 (Spring 2021). The aim of this project was to secure housing of women by creating new housing pathways and developing new types of women-specific working methods in individual work, group activities, experience by expertise and low-threshold meeting places.

The project was a joint development project. Sub-projects were implemented by:

• Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation
• The Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters
• The Helsinki Mother and Child Home Association
• Turku Mother and Child Home Association
• Blue Ribbon Foundation
• EJY Association
• A-Clinic Foundation
• No Fixed Abode NGO

Also involved in the project were:

• Cities of Espoo, Helsinki, Vantaa, Tampere and Turku
• MONIKA – Multicultural Women’s Association
• Krits – Finnish Foundation for Supporting Ex-offenders

More information about the project

Project Sea-Tribe ─ Passage to the Future

The STEA-funded project in 2018–2020 was implemented by the Y-Foundation and the Sail Training Association Finland (STAF). It aimed to strengthen young adults’ skills on life management, housing and working life by using adventure education and service counselling.

Project Sea-Tribe’s target group was young adults aged 18-30 who lived in challenging life situations in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.

The project aimed to develop a new approach and involves a multi-disciplinary network of partners. The operating modes were the Sail Training organised by STAF with different lengths of sailing on schooner Helena; experience by expertise, peer support and service counselling. Through these activities young people were supported to make friends, find hobbies and to seek education and work.

Project Toimekas ─ together for a better everyday life!

The goal of the three-year (2017–2019) project Toimekas, co-ordinated by the Y-Foundation and funded by STEA, was to develop meaningful everyday activities in housing services for people experiencing homelessness.

Daily meaningful activities can prevent homelessness and prevent recurrence of homelessness. In addition to the Y-Foundation, the project Toimekas included:

• Helsinki Deaconess Institute
• Helsingin Vieraskoti ry
• Finnish Salvation Army Foundation
• Blue Ribbon Foundation
• Työterapinen yhdistys ry
• No Fixed Abode

The target group of the project were the (former) long-term homeless with long-lasting marginalisation in society and everyday management skills, as well as the organisations involved in the development, their employees and experts by experience.

Meaningful everyday life in housing service units is created together with project actors, and solutions are found for factors that prevent and promote participation of residents.