Information about homelessness amongst the immigrant population
Statistics on homelessness among immigrants
The Housing Financing and Development Agency (ARA) publishes annual statistics on homelessness. In the 2020 statistics , published in spring 2021, the number of immigrants who are homeless was lower than in the previous year. However, the proportion of immigrants among homeless people was relatively high. 22% of homeless people living alone and 60% of families were of immigrant origin.
These figures are not precise as not all municipalities distinguish the background of homeless people in their statistics. According to the ARA guidelines:'' Immigrant background includes all people who are homeless and living alone and who are not Finnish citizens or whose mother tongue is not Finnish or Swedish. Immigrants can be identified from the Population Register by their mother tongue and place of birth.”
Foreign-language speakers account for around 8% of Finland's population, so immigrants are clearly over-represented in homelessness statistics. ARA compiles homelessness statistics on the basis of data reported by municipalities. These figures do not include undocumented people.
Below is the data on the development of homelessness among immigrants 2001-2020 for single persons and families, collected by Katto program from ARA statistics. For comparison, the graph also includes data for all single persons and families experiencing homelessness.
Katto program's publications
Vastaanottokeskuksesta kuntaan siirtyminen ja asumisen ongelmat
Vastaanottokeskuksesta kuntaan muuttamiseen liittyvät asumisen haasteet järjestöjen näkökulmasta.
Authors: Vilkama, Veera, Moniheli ry; Myllylä, Anna-Leena, Sininauhasäätiö sr
Keywords: vastaanottokeskus, kuntapaikka, asuminen, asunto, asunnottomuus, kotoutuminen
Vastaanottokeskuksesta kuntaan siirtyminen ja asumisen ongelmat (PDF)
Vuokralaisvalintaan vaikuttavat tekijät ja ulkomaalaistaustaisten asunnon hakijoiden asema yksityisillä vuokramarkkinoilla
Raportti vuokranantajille suunnatun kyselyn tuloksista 1.11.2021
Authors: Vilkama, Veera, Moniheli ry; Myllylä, Anna-Leena, Sininauhasäätiö sr; ja Puurunen, Heini, VVA ry
Keywords: asuminen, vuokra-asunto, yksityiset vuokranantajat, syrjintä, yhdenvertaisuus, Katto-toiminta, Suomi, asunnottomuuden ennaltaehkäisy
How will migrant homelessness be eradicated by 2027 in the metropolitan area?
Report to the Katto's community effort 3.6.2021
Authors: Vilkama, Veera
Keywords: maahanmuuttajien asunnottomuus, Katto-toiminta, Suomi, asunnottomuuden ennaltaehkäisy
Working to address the structural factors of immigrant homelessness in Finland: lessons learned from the Katto-project, 2019
Authors: Turk, Jana B. & Ghazi, Duin
Keywords: maahanmuuttajien asunnottomuus, Katto-toiminta, Suomi, asunnottomuuden ennaltaehkäisy
EOH – Report Finnish.pdf 209 KB
EOH – Report in English.pdf 253 KB
Homelessness among immigrants in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. Study by Moniheli in cooperation with the PAAVO 2 programme of the Ministry of the Environment, 2014
Homelessness survey 2014.pdf 706 KB
