Queen of the Station: Vailla Vakinaista Asuntoa in Helsinki

They call her "Queen of the Train Station." Sari has been homeless in Helsinki for ten years, but she prefers the term "vailla vakinaista asuntoa," which means without a permanent home.
When watching this video, please understand that there is a huge culture and communication difference. Sari may not have understood our questions, and we could easily have misunderstood her responses. For example, when Sari talks about hotels, it's very similar to in America when homeless people receive their benefits and then pay for a stay in a hotel for a few days to rest and clean up. I would not have known this unless someone we were with informed me.
The main reason we are posting Sari's video is that she is a wonderful person, and she has a KZbin channel, and we hope many of you will follow and encourage her www.youtube.com/@Saxpi7/videos
Humans are complicated. Sari will go inside when she wants to. Right now, she has created a community at the train station. People know her. Sari feels comfortable. For her, that's all that matters. We spent some time with her, and she seemed happy.
We often forget how much community and identity play a role. This train station has become Sari's home. For her, this train station provides a purpose, whereas in an apartment, she may not have that, or she is afraid of losing what she has. Finland is working on Housing First 2.0 to help people like Sari and get more people inside.
Sari, when you see this, I wanted to use "vailla vakinaista asuntoa" in the title. It was an honor to meet you. You were the highlight of our visit to Finland. Update - I added it to the title - we will see if people find it :)
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About Invisible People
There is a direct correlation between what the general public perceives about homelessness and how it affects policy change. Most people blame homelessness on the person experiencing it instead of the increasing shortage of affordable housing, lack of employment, childhood trauma, lack of a living wage, or the countless reasons that put a person at risk. This lack of understanding creates a dangerous cycle of misperception that leads to the inability to effectively address the root causes of homelessness.
We imagine a world where everyone has a place to call home. Each day, we work to fight homelessness by giving it a face while educating individuals about the systemic issues that contribute to its existence. Through storytelling, education, news, and activism, we are changing the narrative on homelessness.
This isn’t just talk. Our groundbreaking educational content reaches millions of people every month. Our real and unfiltered stories of homelessness shatter stereotypes, demand attention and deliver a call-to-action that is being answered by governments, major brands, nonprofit organizations, and everyday citizens just like you.
However, there is more work to be done on the road ahead. Homelessness is undoubtedly one of our biggest societal issues today and will only continue to grow if we don’t take action now.
Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.

[@InvisiblePeople]

The main reason we are posting Sari's video is she is a wonderful person, and she has a KZbin channel www.youtube.com/@Saxpi7/videos, and we hope many of you will follow and encourage her

[@tanyabrewster574]

Subscribed

[@WanhanAjanMansikka]

I’m from finland, and I’m so glad you interviewed someone from my home country. I can’t believe she slipped through the cracks of our “housing first” approach. I’m glad she at least gets the healthcare she needs free of charge.

[@InvisiblePeople]

Thanks for the kind words. We are here doing a documentary on Housing First. I would not say Sari slipped through the cracks of Housing First. It's more like humans are complicated. Sari will go inside when she wants. Right now, she has created a community at the train station. People know her. Sari feels comfortable. For her, that's all that matters. We spent some time with her, and she seemed happy.

[@Kristine14]

That's because housing first is a failed model. Just look at America for example. People whom are in need of treatment, are not required by that model to receive it. So you have crack heads, mental cases and raging alcoholics all in same housing. It doesn't work.

[@Inf7cted]

@@InvisiblePeople Google search this 'Queen who stayed in railway station for a decade!' interesting read.

[@InvisiblePeople]

@@jacobus57 she wants to be where she has community and feels safe

[@brutalictesku]

Many people are homeless by choice. I think Sari is one of them.

[@eskokomero]

I was born in Helsinki, Finland, moved to New York in the 70s, having been homeless in both cities. Today it’s OK, I have a place to stay in both cities but I can relate to this woman. God bless her! -E.K.

[@theresahaines2647]

I pray God will find permanent homes for all homeless people and animals. May God bless each and everyone. 🙏 🙏 🫂 😊

[@debraallen63]

Heaven is my permanent home. It sure ain't in this world of Lies!!!! Blessings 🙏

[@tammymillner9233]

This Queen deserves a home. This is a long time to be without a home. I wish her the best.

[@InvisiblePeople]

@@jacobus57 For now

[@MorgueParfington]

I think the title "Houseless in Helsinki" might be more accurate to elaborate on her specific situation!

[@InvisiblePeople]

but it would not get found - no one searched for houseless. Trust me - this video, I really would like to use the phrase she likes

[@paavoviuhko7250]

I can't believe you are in the city of my birth. I was born in Helsinki in 1949. The Railway station was always an iconic location in those days. I have no idea how it is now. I live in Canada now because my father wanted to remove the family from the threat of the Russian border but my heart will always be Finnish. Yes homelessness is an issue that draws me deeply. But the attempt to ignore it not only by the authorities but also by the whole society is to me deeply tragic. You are doing a saintly work.

[@SavolaxMitsu]

Steissi on bretty much ok, but don't make that mistake that you take taxi in there. Or use atleast some taxi apps. There was some problem young gangs which steal from younger kids expensive brand clothes.

[@slimdifference08]

Now you're in Finland? You really get around! I guess it's a good thing to get a taste of what homelessness is like in different parts of the world.

[@InvisiblePeople]

We had air miles saved because COVID stopped travel, so we decided to produce a documentary on how Finland has reduced homelessness

[@abdulrajaf6]

Hi Mark...She is STRONG...Lady....Developed Country....but she's COOL in her Problem faced...

[@ablejohn9269]

God bless u ❤

[@tomtrusselmeansemptythreat]

Such an amazing person 🥰, I am from Vantaa, near Helsinki and I crossed her a lot of time every time I go the main train station

[@MsThemjs]

Prayers to all the homeless 🙏🏽

[@hermanmunster8655]

It seems she chooses to be living at the train station. Is housing available?

[@InvisiblePeople]

It's not so black and white, meaning - Finland has housing for people, but Sari, for her own personal reasons, feels safer at the train station. My guess is some kind of trauma, but that's just an assumption. What I do know is she is wonderful, and there are amazing people helping to take care of her, and when or if she is ready to go inside, these workers will be there for her.

[@hermanmunster8655]

@@InvisiblePeople 🙏🏼❣️ thank you

[@MariaWitcher]

Beautiful story!! Thank you for making such good content

[@hotelhonda3308]

How can people see this woman for 10 years!!! And not help?😢 then they nick name her??!! Why is there no help?

[@SavolaxMitsu]

She can any day march to social service office if she want do that.

[@samshepperrd]

Her English is perfect. Pulp Fiction in Finland.

[@feralLove]

She must be surviving well because she looks fairly healthy for someone whose been unhoused for these past 10 years! Yes, one has to be strong willed in order to survive outdoors that long but gradually it will start taking a toll on her. If i knew her personally i would encourage her to participate in her countries "housing first" program, which is one of the best!

[@nerd26373]

Sari has gone through so much, and we only wish for this person to strive harder.

[@rikkenielsen4148]

Thank you Mark, for all the work that you do! Have been following your work for a long time , and now you are in Scandinavia! May this timespirit that we live in change! And people rights be respected, no matter where they live! 🌿🕊 A dane!

[@metallooily7606]

Homelessness people happened around the Globe, sad cos these people saddened by unfortunate victims of heartless people

[@bigsarge2085]

❤

[@td6460]

It's impossible to be homeless in Finland, unless you choose to be. Source: am Finnish, was homeless for a whole of one week after which I was provided a place to live by the city.

[@InvisiblePeople]

It's far more complicated than what you wrote because humans are complicated

[@td6460]

@@InvisiblePeople No, it's not at all complicated. In Finland, homelessness is 100% a personal choice.

[@InvisiblePeople]

@@td6460 I just spent a week here, and that is not the truth. There are 3.800 people in Helsinki without housing for various reasons. The video is coming soon. Probably around Thanksgiving. While Finland is doing the best I have seen of any city I have visited, there is still homelessness here. It's going down, meaning Finland is reducing homelessness because they are all-in on housing, but bureaucracy is universal.

[@td6460]

@@InvisiblePeople I'm glad you visited Finland for a week. I have been here for 35 years. In Finland, nobody goes homeless because they got sick and the private insurance company refused to pay. In Finland, homelessness is 100% a personal choice, whether fueled by drugs and/or alcohol or simply bad decisionmaking. If you go homeless, they put you in a dormitory with your own room and a toilet-bathroom you share with 3 or more people, a shared kitchen etc. There are certainly issues with apartments becoming commodized by large corporations, but if you work, you can afford your own place. There are so many social programs in this country, nobody can even list them all, but refusal to engage with them does not get you a pity point for being "homeless".

[@InvisiblePeople]

@@td6460 you are right - there are far better social programs - but some of them still fail to help all that need help. The amazing thing about Finland is they want to keep getting better. Yes - I was there for a week, but we talked to politicians and homeless and housing experts, and all of them share that it's not a perfect system. Our video will be out in a few months. Helsinki has done better and does better than any city I have visited, but there are still close to 4,000 homeless people outside, and while Sari may seem like an exception, truth is - if there was the right housing for her - she would go inside - but there is not

[@jack7583]

perhaps she loves society, people and being in the center of what is happening. she is a person of art. such people are often ,, abnormal ,,. She is a pleasant woman, and why would she not fix her teeth so that she can smile without embarrassment? she would be beautiful!

[@maggie4396]

MARK are you gonna go to Iceland? nice interview! always! you are the best! 🤩👍👍👍

[@nano2424]

Does Iceland have homeless people? It would be interesting if he goes there

[@maggie4396]

​@@nano2424 it a hard land of living (cost, cold weather,suicide (n1 in the world) least luminosity, isolation + only 300 000 population! will be cool if he decide to visit the mysterious land! i remember a movie from Iceland Stormy Weather! cold movie about mental illness! you see the paysage !

[@baileyhallfilms]

it goes to show it can happen to anyone no matter the developed and first world conditions i hope she finds a home

[@Golden_Jack]

Haven't seen her in Central Railway Station cause I stopped visiting Helsinki about 16 years ago cause my life was a mess. It still is but I'm surviving and not homeless. Poor yes but I'm not complaining. Things could have gone 1000 times worse. Thanks for the author for visiting Finland. I hope for more stuff outside US. 👍

[@rbj5767]

🦹‍♀️⚡✨

[@moupac1]

How can someone from Finland or any other from a rich country could be living in the street. This is what I can't understand

[@Saxpi7]

I got help from some "nice man", I was living in his apartment and we made good food and so on but in the beginning of June he took alcohol and had some aggression. In October I left the place because there was no fresh air in apartment and I had no right to use my own phone. Luckily he went to drink alcohol and I packed my things and contacted journalist who made that story about me that sends police if I don't contact by some time. Later "nice man" came back and was very angry when I started to carry my things out. Yelling a lot but I got out.

[@rustigreizenaub9249]

I've seen your video's for years now. Unfortunatly for me fate has also struck me recently. I'm also homeles now. Since sunday i'm on the streets. What a disaster. tryed to commite suicde but i failt with that attempt. Must be God that did that. One would say that drinking couland and swallow 100 pils would be enough to get killed. Well...not in my case. I hardly got sick believe it or not. However....i'm homeles now. Together with miloins of other homeles people.

[@andrewe820]

Family #1

[@sgmarr]

She is correct! Society adores assigning a Label! And with these Labels, comes a Trained Mental Prejudice! Its a method of Raising Self Above. Now in reverse? The Youth prefers Labels! They carry these Labels like badges of Pride and Inclusiveness! This World is strange!

[@chelongogan3904]

I'm praying for the churches to start helping more.. The Bible says.. the churches need to help the orphans and the widows !!!!

[@debraallen63]

Churches and Religions are just another Business. God doesn't require a Religion, the Gift of salvation is Free to anyone who wants it through the TRUTH; also known as Jesus. That is why we must Seek Truth. You won't find it in a Religion or on TV. Blessings 🙏

[@4FYTfa8EjYHNXjChe8xs7xmC5pNEtz]

When I was in Finland they used to close that station every night and kick everybody out. I guess it different now?

[@SavolaxMitsu]

Only some part of Station will be full night open.

[@UliMuliko]

In Finland you will live in apartment if you want.No need to be outside.

[@karengrace4309]

Neighbors without walls Is a better term then homeless

[@InvisiblePeople]

I was homeless. Most homeless people prefer homeless as a term. Sari doesn’t, and that’s her choice. The term madness in America is madness. There are many terms now. It’s just confusing. It’s OK to say homeless

[@karengrace4309]

@@InvisiblePeople I too know what it’s like to be without a home and prefer neighbors without walls as it doesn’t sound like us and them

[@qcabirthdaygreeter]

Homeless woman with KZbin uploads. Make it make sense...🤔

[@radicalcartoons2766]

You can use computers for free at libraries in major cities.

[@yugiohfanatic1964]

Finland rich people, has welfare to help muslims for free. So this woman is actor, and all you have been massively baited.

[@theswordofkings7549]

The government of Finland would like to help her, but they just joined NATO, and that money has already gone to Ukraine