Homeless people 2020

Homelessness is concentrated in large cities

The number of homeless people living alone in Greater Helsinki has decreased by 217 since 2019. The number fell by 144 in Helsinki. Homelessness increased in Lahti and Kuopio but decreased in other large cities.

Long-term homelessness decreased in Helsinki, Espoo and Turku. Instead, long-term homelessness in Vantaa, Tampere and Lahti increased from the previous year. The highest relative number of homeless people is in Helsinki, where there are 2.8 homeless people per 1,000 residents. The ratio is 2.2 in Turku and 1.8 in Espoo.

Two-thirds stay with friends and relatives

Nearly two-thirds (64%) of the homeless people living alone were temporarily staying with friends or relatives. The number decreased by 347 from the previous year.

There were 721 people living outside and in stairways and overnight shelters. There were 489 homeless people living in dormitories or hostels. Over the past two years, the number of people in these two categories of homelessness has grown to more than 1,200, compared with less than 800 in 2014 to 2018. The number of people living in institutional units also increased by 46 to a total of 358.

No change in homelessness among young people

The number of homeless women decreased by 125 in comparison to 2019. The number of homeless women is 1,065 and they amount to approximately 25% of homeless people. 

There were 3,276 homeless men, which is 134 fewer than in the previous year. In 2019, there were 850 homeless young people under 25 years of age in Finland. 

The number of young people amounted to 20% of all homeless people. There was no change in the homelessness of young people compared to the previous year, but compared to 2015, the homelessness of young people has been halved. 

There were 963 homeless immigrants. The number decreased by 133 people in comparison to 2019. The number of homeless immigrants compared to 2015 has also been halved.

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