American reacts to How this EU nation SOLVED Homelessness

Thank you for watching me, a humble American, react to How Finland Found A Solution To Homelessness
Original video: • How Finland Found A So...
Got a video request? Fill out this form!
forms.gle/NeQp...
Thanks for subscribing for more European reactions!

[@paappan4124]

I am from Finland, most home look like this here. I think people consider humanity over money here. Apartment buildings are cleaned and managed by the some companies.

[@Northerner-NotADoctor]

Sounds like if you were a neighbour to Slavic or communist nations...

[@scarba]

@@Northerner-NotADoctoryou think the communists cared about people?

[@ParaSpite]

Way I heard it, giving them housing costs LESS than the whole stupid shelter system.

[@iriscollins7583]

​@@scarbaAnd the US DO?

[@iriscollins7583]

Washing dishes, Detergent? I didn't even know what that was was until after 1945. We weren't willing to risk sailors lives, Merchant NAVY, so that you wash your pots easier.

[@nelltheretrogamer]

I'm Finnish, a couple of comments about this video: how people pay their rent, it is because everyone here can get some social benefits that cover the minimum costs of living. If someone here literally has zero income, that's either because they haven't bothered to apply for the benefits or don't know how to. That's the sort of thing that the people who work at these places can help them with. As for the visuals in this video, I think it uses a lot of stock footage and some of it doesn't even seem to be from Finland. The apartments where people with addictions live don't usually look this nice, their homes are much more of a mess. These housing units probably require that the tenants maintain a certain level of hygiene so that they aren't literally attracting rats etc, but that's not much. The "UFO" at the end is the dome of the Temppeliaukio Church, it is an underground church hewn in stone.

[@ryanwuzer]

oh that's awesome!

[@Gibbetoo]

that woman washing dishes clip looks like normal Finnish home would look.

[@nelltheretrogamer]

@@Gibbetooyeah, I agree about that. But there were some other clips that looked like they were from elsewhere. For example, there was a short clip where an old man was digging into a trash can and normal trash containers are not shaped like that in Finland. It was clearly just some generic stock footage about homeless people.

[@Gibbetoo]

saw them too, but that was what he took point to@@nelltheretrogamer

[@michaelgoetze2103]

I think that the images of the old man digging in the rubbish bin was probably used as a contrast of what it is like elsewhere where the homeless are not looked after.

[@Sarmaamy]

We pay a lot of taxes in Finland but I think it's worth it. And actually majority of Finnish people are 'happy tax payers' according to surveys. This is a humane way of solving this problem. And it lessens criminality and other problems. I always remember that there was once a dirty old drunk in a same tram with. He kept talking how he gets warm porridge, two pieces of bread and two glasses of milk for few euros in his housing complex. He was so content and happy. It really made my day listening to him. I really felt myself a happy tax payer.

[@Finkele1]

with new government who said we wouldn't....well the rich doesn't.

[@Finkele1]

middle class and everybody else has to carry it along....hoe stupid is that for economy?

[@MotherGoose-od1qi]

@@Finkele1 11% of the population (the richest) pay 49% of taxes. 89% of its 51%. Maybe it's time to stop the left-wing nonsense that the rich don't pay taxes.

[@Arguments_only]

we dont pay that much more taxes than average american and we get much more in returns. Taken the services into account such as health care insurance premiums vs universal healthcare we pay less. Rich people have a way to dodge legally taxes in the US.

[@Rivetlicker]

I’m not from Finland, but the Netherlands, and I got back on my feet in a system that was part like that housing first thing. What they did were I was; is try to get you back in a normal dayroutine, and get help for addiction (if that applied) and help you sort out your paperwork. You’d pay rent to stay there (but that got taken from your welfare payment before they paid you, so you can’t miss a payment), but you’d have breakfast, lunch, dinner there, your own, or a shared room. They’d often want you to volunteer somewhere, so you do something with your day. It wasn’t nearly as miserable as a lot of shelters I’ve seen online in other countries. Still, stuff happened there… a lot of crazy stories I got from there. And the housing part is possible because social housing firms here (or at least the one in my area), have a quota of houses reserved for people to get out of a shelter and back into normal housing. You go through a different process to get housed; because homeless people cost the local municipality way too much. And in that way, they’re saving money, just like they do in Finland. I’ve also seen people fail that system; because they just didn’t want people to interfere with their life. They wanted to keep drinking, doing other substances, live their own dayroutines. I guess, in part, homelessness is willing to change your situation, but I also think, that it relies on good access to every aspect of life to get back on track. And as an outsider, I hear a lot of stories where even people not battling with addiction, are struggling with making ends meet; even more so in a country like the US. It’s barely an incentive to get back on track, because you’re set up to fail again eventually.

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

In Finland if you do not have permanent address (i.e. couch surfing, temporary shelters, etc) you are counted as homeless. There are only a handful of people living in the street anymore. Also, they get social security, so they can use that to pay the "rent" until they get their shit together.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Near where I live there are perhaps 2-3 homeless people, they chose to be homeless and always moving around! Sometimes there are others begging near public transport hubs, but they are just con artists! Every person receives an income in Australia, so begging for more is really unfair these days! 🤨

[@ArchieArpeggio]

Well in Finland most people doesn´t even use cash anymore. So beggingis not an option here.

[@ViracochaFI]

@@ArchieArpeggio But you see beggars and they usually are foreign con artists mainly from Bulgaria and Romania.

[@Thevikingcam]

Street homelessness like in US i literally maybe 10% of that 4000 people.

[@jussiniemi9560]

That's true. I am currently listed as homeless for three years, while living in a a big old kyläkauppa which is officially registered as a business location. I cannot be registered here. So they called me and told me that I would be listed as homeless if i lived there. I said no problem, I like being homeless in this spacious, well located home. It does not effect anything. Apart from asumistuki, which i propably would not get, so i haven't even applied,

[@TheKentaurion]

The "Housing first" came actually to us in Finland from the US! They tried it there, but gave up (too soon?). I remember from my youth, talking to guys living in tents and cardboard shelters asking them how they survive the winter. All said they sneak into a bigger house complex and sleep under the stairs. Everyone knew where to go when it went under -10 C. Sadly some guys never made the whole winter. Now those tents are totally gone. Haven't seen them in over 30 years. I'm proud that we can take care of the least fortunate in our society.

[@beckysam3913]

In california the homeless 'shelter', housing programs became a big expensiv business! The money goes from state to lobby and companies. Thats why problem isnt solved. Also since last 30 years, the medical and psychological affordable or free help was cut a lot and people can not really function anymore in help programs. Its spiraling downwards.

[@lisaistryingtolive]

​@@beckysam3913 I also believe it's never under -10°C (14°F) in California, so, like... some people don't actively seek a way out from the streets because they can survive there without dying from cold?

[@lynnhamps7052]

The USA has masses of land what it also has is a huge population of people who don't give a shit about anyone else but themselves...they can't seem to see beyond their own needs and don't consider the benefits they would also receive in a more balanced society...hence the lack of real support for a universal healthcare system or a better welfare system. It's a strange mindset of 'why should they get that, when I can't ' , well maybe it's because they need it more?! If we support the weakest then the world as a whole gets stronger. 🙁✌🇬🇧

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Yes I agree, these people are not expendable or useless, everyone can contribute to society in some way and if they become productive and can share the common financial burden then everybody wins! The lost, alone and downtrodden become increasingly unhealthy and more expensive to help! "A stitch in time saves nine"! Give them a healthy space of their own, and an incentive to survive America! 😠🇦🇺

[@bararobberbaron859]

And you'd think the practical 'It costs less state money, thus taxes can be spent on other beneficial things or lowered' argument would alone convince some of those staunch people. I know it sounds cold, but I don't care about homeless people. I can care about the situation an individual homeless person is in, but in general they are a vague mass. Just like when I hear 200 people died in an earthquake, the 'sad' aspect is that I can imagine its sad for the loved ones. Meanwhile when my cousins murder was in the newspaper it hit me hard but obviously many people just shrugged. But just practically out of self interest for me and mine, freeing up taxpayer money can only be a good thing.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

@@bararobberbaron859 I rest my case, Americans do not care about other people and life is cheap! ☑️

[@trentr9762]

As someone who lives in homeless acoomidstion, having been given a large apartment by the government I have an incentive to keep it clean as I don't wanna be back on the street and I don't wanna live in filth. One is ment to respect thier surrounding and that is very much understood. I'm in England, and here to be homeless for more then a month you have to want to be there, the help is avaliable, some just choose not to take it. Our system here seems to be working rather well :3

[@llamagirl2679]

We are very lucky here in England.

[@Winona493]

Accomodation? Acoomidstion? I thought I'd learn a new word. Disappointment is at the start.

[@DanVibesTV]

@@Winona493 just a typo. not a big deal

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@llamagirl2679 Except that currently (and for some time now), British homeless people are being pushed out of Temp accomodation for illegal immigrants by our own government.

[@ness-ee]

Yeh I was gonna say that in the UK there’s a really good social system. People I knew on the streets where I lived had a place to call home; they begged because of addiction.

[@AnnaPennanen]

Finland is now the happiest country on earth for the 7th year in a row ❤❤

[@fatherson5907]

It’s also the most racist nation on the planet.

[@ViracochaFI]

And 38. in suicide list.

[@Mikael_Puusaari]

Addiction in itself is not what makes addicted people not keeping their home clean, it is rather the feeling of being forgotten by the society, being looked down upon, not getting a chance to get back to a real life that causes so many other problems for them and essentially leads to them not even care about cleaning or other things that don't really matter anymore stigma is really the biggest problem that many face, they know that just because they are addicted or homeless they won't get a job(because of stigma) or a home(because of bad economy) and even if u have a job and home, getting out of addiction is very hard, but if u don't have that stability, very hard becomes extremely hard I think why this project works in Finland is because people are ok with tax money going to help the entire nation.. all these who get off the streets will feel thankful and do a lot more to pay back to the society in form of taxes But u are right, the US is spending so much on military that it probably is not even possible there, Finland has not been in war in 84 years and are probably using a much higher percentage of the tax income for productive things for the people

[@petteriraty]

Finland has a constitutional right to social security. Basically to pay the rent they need to apply for the benefits that cover the rent.

[@ronaldderooij1774]

The Netherlands has the same in the constitution. But the laws cannot be measured up against the constitution and what social protection is, is defined by the government in charge. So, yeah, empty letter here, I am afraid.

[@llamagirl2679]

Same as the UK. We are very lucky.

[@petteriraty]

@@ronaldderooij1774 : It’s not an empty letter in Finland. Changes to legislation get scrutinized for compliance with the constitution.

[@petteriraty]

@@llamagirl2679 : Which norm are you referring to? In the UK everything can be changed by simple majority so no right is really that protected.

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Same as Australia, the Community or Govt run housing authority will take 25% of the person's pension or benefit only, and provide maintenance and regular welfare and support needs checks too! Migrants receive a similar service on a temporary basis, not expensive hotel accommodation, until they can receive temporary resident entitlements or have found paid work or sponsorship!

[@Coooeee]

Well done, Finland!

[@eucitizen78]

Homelessness is not a problem in America. It's part of the system in the US. It is kind of wanted. Who would work under your working conditions and all the rest of it, no health insurance and so on, if there would not be homelessness as sword floating over your head.

[@mats7492]

SPOT ON!

[@Winona493]

Wise words

[@kokkolintu3528]

Exactly. Which is why they won't fix it. Because the rich want to stay rich - erhm! I mean "FREEDOM! Bible! Bold eagle!" 😑

[@bubee8123]

w8 until you find out how they shift concentration of homeless people in different parts of town so big corporations can buy cheap properties and as soon as they move in police pushes homeless away to next target.

[@visasap]

Ah yes - no one works or wants to work in Finland right?

[@pasmas3217]

What i think is missed from the Finish way is the very strong support they attempt to provide to homeless people to get them out of their situation whatever that is. Other videos have leaned more than just a single reference to this, and i think this is the main reason that is working in any effect. also regarding the comparison to the shelters, keep in mind that there is a huge difference having a place to sleep SOME NIGHTS compared to a place that you can call home and feels like that with the safety it provides, including mental safety.

[@bararobberbaron859]

The feeling of having your own key and you deciding who is or isn't able to enter your space, versus being in a sort of large hall in a shelter where 20 different people can rob you for your shoes or stab you for snoring are just a much different feeling. Being out of the weather is a plus but you can do that in a bus stop, being housed is a much bigger thing.

[@patriciacarter1147]

People who are calling out the homeless through drink or drugs forget that a lot of them are a failure of the government to look after war veterans properly or they slip through the system with the PTSD showing up later, this is very hard to treat and in England their are a few genuine charities that can help them.

[@Vera150607]

Sad but true, thanks for your “service”; now you're on your own.

[@5688gamble]

People don't think about why so many people are trying to escape using addictive substances. But it is limbic capitalism, we all are encouraged to be addicts. Social media, gambling, video games, sex, shopping, caffeine, sugar, fat, alcohol, nicotine. The streets are awash with addictive substances and behaviours you can use to distract yourself from the struggle to make rich people richer.

[@janolaful]

Some are made homeless ie losing there jobs not being able to pay there rent or mortgage. It's not always about drugs over 68 million live in the uk over 309,000 homeless there's a shortage of homes . And our government would never pay to rehouse all of them. Sad but true 😮

[@Thurgosh_OG]

@@janolaful True, our Gov is too busy using our taxes to pay for illegals to stay in the UK.

[@Coooeee]

I imagine that with people off the street, there would be less crime, vandalism, litter, shop lifting, mugging, police intervention, to name a few, as well as improved economy and even tourism. If a place is pleasant and safe, people will visit. It benefits the homeless and the non homeless.

[@pekkajarvinen69]

This. Exactly this.

[@RenderSM]

Around 10:30 - per capita it makes a HUGE difference. Finland: 3 400 homeless people / 5 600 000 people = 0.6 homeless per 1000 people USA: 650 000 homeless people / 340 000 000 people = 1.9 homeless per 1000 people You have about 3 times as many homeless people per capita.

[@juhilla749]

I saw a video about the work of Finnish social workers in connection with the housing first program. Very empathetic people, actually not all apartments were clean (the stairwells are cleaned by a company). At that time, many people lived in normal apartments for the first time in their lives and they had no idea what housekeeping or cleaning was, or how to handle the garbage, how to organize their tasks related to the apartment, and therefore it was an amazing mess and dirt sometimes. But the social workers explained that this is not the point, because these people just need time and patience, the point is that they themselves are fine, working, studying, recovering, heal etc.

[@mrsmerily]

Does not sound true tho.... as there is litterally no change that fin has born homeless who never lived in a home, went to school etc.... noway, does sound like a fake story here.

[@gundarsmiks4889]

Imagine waking up under some bridge, or in a tent, and then going to job!!! Yes, that is absolutely correct, you do need place to stay to solve some things...

[@moonliteX]

I live in the penthouse of a skyscraper overlooking the sea in the middle of Helsinki on basic social benefits that anyone can get. Used to work in IT before I got a huge burnout. Now the benefits pay for therapy, meds and even sauna and on TOP of that I get over a grand a month for rent and bills and food. I love our system ❤

[@moonliteX]

If I lived in the states I would FOR SURE be on the street and on drugs or just dead.

[@edheldude]

The trade off is that you worked half a year for the government every year to pay your taxes.

[@teroristi6107]

the USA has around 600 000 homeless people which is quite a lot but here's a fact to get thoughts rolling: there are approximately 17 million vacant homes in the USA also

[@5688gamble]

If America spent as much on helping people as it does on harming people, you'd be on to a winner!

[@rogerk6180]

Helping people isn't anywhere near as profitable though.

[@DanVibesTV]

@@rogerk6180in the long run, it actually is more profitable

[@HeroesofNovember]

Things went worse fast after WW2. Now everything is controlled by the globalists.

[@charlie7mason]

@@rogerk6180 Perhaps it may actually be if they tried...but the rich would have to probably sacrifice their billions so they could just be multi-millionaires...alongside the fact that none of them want people to be at peace enough to turn their thoughts from fighting amongst each other for any number of bs made-up reasons.

[@molly9518]

@@rogerk6180 No unfortunately.. And as long as that is true, it is not gonna change.. But "they" try to make european countries more like US, because "they" can make more money that way... 🙄😣

[@thundercat9997]

You always have an "income" which is called simply cash benefits from the social security in Finland to pay that little rent and basic living, that's one of the reasons why we pay taxes here (a lot). If you're a citizen and become unemployed, you get sick etc, you're entitled to receive them. It's not a perfect system but you're never on nothing basically.

[@SriGutta]

America has better GDP per capita. There is really no excuse why US cannot deal with homelessness using the same approach as Finland. It is not an economic problem, it is a political problem.

[@hauskalainen]

Americans prepare for a shock. ... this policy was thought through and implemented by Conservative politicians.

[@katjasaha8396]

Greetings from Finland ❤🧡💛

[@Herr_U]

I think you paused twice during the sentence that explained most of the questions you had, the sentence was (roughly) "And have a strong social system", in finland (all of the nordics really) you have decent unemployment and sick benefits, as well as methods to subsidize housing (the homeless are put in rental btws, they don't get to own them). The point of the finnish system is to a large part to get the homeless "into the system" - which means they will have regular contact with offers of work-training, education, mental healthcare, healthcare, and social workers. (Do note that in the nordics there are only a minimal (and lowering) stigma to seeing mental healthcare, and both mental and physical healthcare is fairly cheap (or price capped on an annual basis)) Or put another way - the housing is mainly to remove lots of the dispair and uncertainty, and then keep them in touch with the services that can help up until they either reach the workforce, or at least are like any other that got an early retirement due to medical issues. The real quesiton is - why doesn't the rest of the nordics implement this model? (since they have the social structures in place to actually be able to pull this off if they gave it a proper (long-term) go)

[@JamesPond62]

I'd describe it as something akin to "socially supported capitalism" where the social security and safety is there to make sure no matter what happens, people won't fall into poverty and are still capable of either getting back on their feet and finding a new job to support themselves and pay back into the system (taxes) OR to make sure people don't end up in a dead end, the free education always giving people a way to find a new trade or profession no matter how bad life treated them so they can find a new job and maintain the system. Unfortunately the only reason this works is due to high trust in society, I could say many a thing on said subject and delve into the subtleties of it but that's our problem to solve so let's leave it but in general I'm quite happy with the way we do it here. I pray the folks over in the US can rediscover the unifying american spirit to solve this issue. The current divided US makes me sad, one should be able to trust their neighbour no matter where it is. Now that I'm done ranting, thanks for your content. I enjoy your content a lot.

[@vascoapolonio2309]

We look up at Finland as an example to follow. Its very nice.

[@chrysalis4126]

wonder what happened in the US in 2016 for the homelessness to start rising...

[@Rachel_M_]

If you think Trump was bad, which he was, Go back 40 years to Reagan and see what happened then.....

[@Oomph6006]

@@Rachel_M_ Reagan turbocharged homelessness, defunded public schools, closed mental institutions, made the lower middleclass poor etc.. Reagan made Maga...

[@iriscollins7583]

Rachel _ M _ Aided and Abetted by MAGGIE, in the UK. Selling Social at knock down prices,,any money received Not to be spent ON REPLACEMENT. PROPERTY PRICES rose so much, it took ownership out of their ability to buy property. Interest rates so high, even 2 income families, could not afford mortgages. The bang and bust, of banks, didn't help. .. Building Societies became Banks. Interest rates snow dived, until they disappeared, still at status quo. Banks were bailed out by Taxpayers. I always thought that bonuses were paid for good performance, not so in the banking industry. Still no interest for customers. Branches disappeared.

[@Rachel_M_]

@@iriscollins7583 you spoiled my punchline 😂. Don't remind me. I don't need to relive it

[@pattycarljackson]

@@Rachel_M_Trump is not bad and wasn’t just take a look at your current president.

[@Lancor84]

In the US: As many as 40%-60% of people experiencing homelessness have a job

[@loboclaud]

Nowadays in Portugal some homeless people also have a job but cannot afford the sky-rocketing rent or mortagage prices. Many people live on the minimum wage and that is not enough. It's really quite sad.

[@mrsmerily]

@@loboclaud that is sad... and many times the system is built the way that if you actually are good cititizen and work you will not get benefits... you need to stop working and then you might be in better situation.

[@llamagirl2679]

Homeless is measured differently in many countries. In the UK you are considered homeless if you are staying with family, are in temporary accommodation, sofa surfing. The local councils have Duty of Care to house you. There are people that choose to be homeless. The Gov also cover the rent for those on low income, unemployed, disabled etc. These homes are given to you for life as long as you don't break basic rules. You can decorate it and treat it as your own but the Gov are responsible for all the maintenance.Many people take care of the houses they are given because they feel lucky to have been given one.

[@Thurgosh_OG]

SHouldn't that say 'NOT staying with family' or did you mean something else?

[@Narangarath]

​@@Thurgosh_OG I'm pretty sure they meant exactly what they wrote. It's the same in Finland, in many cases an adult, non-dependant family member is considered homeless even if they are temporarily staying with family. Of course it's different if their official address is a family member's home, but then they have an official address, so they're not homeless.

[@mrsmerily]

you forget to mention there is a que and it is like you go there and say hey im now adulting and wanna move out, give me housing. And you will get a house. It is not how it works. You are put in a que and it can happen that the que never ends.

[@ytMFOS]

The video clip where the woman washed the dishes was not from Finland. 105% of Finnish kitchens have a dish drying cabinet directly above the sink and dishes are not dried in a drying rack on top of the counter. But in Finland, a large part of the homeless are not alcoholics or drug addicts living on the street, but they have lost their apartment for some reason, for example due to the end of the apartment lease or a divorce, so they have a job, otherwise things are fine, but no apartment. They can live at a friend's place, for example, but they are on the city's housing queue, so they are technically homeless. It must be remembered that Finland has been at war on its own soil four times in the last 106 years (1918, 1939, 1940-1944 and 1945) and has always rebuilt it after large war reparations. The Americans always go to war on someone else's property.

[@hematula1]

The funny thing about military spending... it seems that US military costs per capita have been staying around 2000 USD. And while FInland is small, our military budget is about 1000 USD per capita. But this is just the direct costs, it does not take into account the losses of production, taxes and such due to the conscription (mandatory for males, voluntary for females) which last between 6 to 12 months. So the true costs of finnish military might not be that far off from the US ones.

[@MishkaUK]

well, I can say that UK certainly have not solved homelessness at all. It is a real issue and incresing rapidly during our economic downturn.

[@oskarprotzer3000]

if you already presume homeless people wouldnt be able to clean their own place, you dont even give them a chance. a place thats your own is very different to some corner on the street where police could drive you out at any moment.

[@teresagalea2321]

I can't imagine why people would leave mean comments. You're the least offensive person on KZbin

[@Jeni10]

Does Finland pay their unemployed through social security? Australia does. We also have homeless people who have a job but can’t afford the rent. Also, we have widows with children who live in their cars because they can’t keep up the payments on the family home. It’s not all drugs in Australia.

[@Superbiist]

As the narrator in the video said, there are social workers and doctors to help these people. So their job is to help these homeless people to maintain that apartment and take care of themselves. Sure, the apartments wont look like the girl in the picture, but it aint a drughole either. The basis of all of this is to take care of our ppl. I have seen these drug addict videos from US and I always think, that how can "normal" people just walk by, day after day? How do you, americans, shut your eyes from that? And that half million homeless, why dont you do something about it? Dont walk by. Its a million in few years. Then you say again, its too big. Years go and the issue grows. Shia LaBeouf says it right. JUST DO IT!!!!

[@beldin2987]

I guess the money that guys like Jeff Bezos own alone would already be enough to give everyone a roof over the head. But hey .. its more important that these guys can compete who has the biggest Yacht.

[@HeroinYoda]

Jeff Bezos has 191.000.000.000$. Lets assume that the price of buying an apartment is 500.000$. That would mean that Jeff Bezos's money could buy 382.000 apartments which could house homeless people. But that's not all. The new residents would obviously have to pay rent, lets say thats 500$/Month (Cheap bc those houses obviously need low rent) resulting in an income of 101.000.000$ which could be reinvested into 202 new apartments each month. The number of homeless people in america is 653.104 People, so 58% could be housed immediately with the rest being housed within 111 years, unless the 2.000.000.000$ america spends on homeless assistance annualy are also factored in which would result in 534 new houses per month. If all goes right homelessness in the US could be solved within 42 years (If 1 person inhabits 1 apartment). Please correct me if any of my calculations are wrong. I haven't done this much math since I graduated.

[@tutatis96]

I have a friend who works as a psychologist in a housing first here in Italy. It seems to work from what she's told me, they are helped a lot by the social operators, it's not like here's a house bye. They visit them every day and help them with their struggles. They often also work in some kind of project that gets them some cash for food, rent and others. They do stuff like gardening in public parks, cleaning public toilets and roads, they help with city's events and also have a shop that repairs bikes of the local university's students and citizens for quite cheap. I think it is a very good idea because they're blended in the community all the time and both them and others recognise a value in what they're doing.

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

But if you solve Homelessness, how do you scare the shit out of the middle class ? Make them show up at those jobs...

[@TheKentaurion]

Don't scare them. Encourage them! Everyone benefits from that.

[@eucitizen78]

You brought it to the point. You said the same as I did but with shorter words.👍 Thank you. You are absolutely right.

[@LalaDepala_00]

George Carlin

[@johnsmith-cw3wo]

@@LalaDepala_00

[@Intiani-neitiT]

The middle class would hate to see bodies on the streets in th freezing winter mornings.

[@hannahjelenawitt284]

You seem to have much empathy. I am very often impressed by the way you are thinking, when watching your videos. Greetings from Germany 😊

[@M.b-q-bn]

All European countries have social security which covers basic needs rent is usually approximately 10 percent of the payment everyone gets ,

[@grabtharshammer]

When you were talking about the girl in the flat you were asking if a flat would stay like that, so clean etc. You may have forgotten that earlier they were saying it is not just giving them a flat, they also have onsite managers / help / support. Also when you give people REAL hope, then you also encourage them to CARE, they can develop a sense of pride in themselves. It is not just a physical thing, providing a home, a base. It helps people to develop a purpose. Sure not everyone would be affected that way. There would always be some who find it difficult, especially those with mental health issues. That is where the onsite support is so important. It is not just about numbers, reducing the bad numbers. It is about people, it is about treating the citizens of your country with respect despite their circumstances. It is about being a civilised, evolved society. Unlike a lot of countries where it is all about money and selfishness. What can they do for me attitude, instead of what can I do for my fellow human beings.

[@lepidoptera9337]

That's a nice idea, but it won't work with a drug addict or a schizophrenic. The homelessness crisis in the US is mostly a legal crisis. Unlike in other countries we can not commit mentally ill people and addicts to mental health facilities as long as they are not a proven risk to others. They don't have that inhibition in other countries... for the better or for the worse. That's part of the price of "freedom" that Americans are paying.

[@SuperPuddingcat]

There is a homelessness problem in Germany too, but on a recent trip to New York I was really shocked at the large number of obviously mentally ill people on the streets. Among the incidents I noticed during the trip was an older woman on the subway with no pants on, all she had on was a top and she was obviously not well. No one cared or attempted to help her. In Germany someone would have at least notified the emergency call box that there was someone on the train needing help.

[@thescrewfly]

First you need a government that cares at all about helping and protecting its citizens, all its citizens. Then you need a government that doesn't spend all its funding on maintaining armed forces bigger than the ten next biggest militaries in the world put together. Then you need to raise more funding by actually taxing the people who are most easily able to pay. Then you need to stop the richest people and corporations from lobbying for preferential treatment. Then you need to stop employers from exploiting their employees. Then you need to have a decent school system so that people can bemotivated to learn how to think, how to analyse, how to learn. Then you need... etcetera, etcetera. So I'm saying treat the disease don't just put a bandaid on the symptoms and wonder why it doesn't make anything better.

[@filipohman7277]

Awesome Work Bro , Thanks Greetings from Helsinki, Finland🇫🇮🇺🇸

[@intensemint7800]

The UFO is pretty cool looking Temppeliaukio Church, I love the copper disk ceiling there ❤

[@AndreasLarsson-vo3om]

have a look at this video on the subject. it has interviews with people housed by the program, people working in the program and some politicians. "Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (Spoiler: It's More Than Housing First)" by "Invisible People"

[@halmond8713]

I sent request for him to do that. I hope he checks it out.

[@smeegoan2289]

There are approximately 15.1 million vacant homes in the United States, which represented about 10.5% of the country's total housing inventory. This includes both rental and homeowner vacancies. There is no housing shortage, just hoarding and artificial shortage for price gauging.

[@19smkl91]

It doesn't get out of hand cause of winter temperatures can go below -25C and most homeless would just die off.

[@sampohonkala4195]

In reality, roughly 80 people die of freezing in Finland every year. However, they are very rarely homeless. Most often they are elderly people that get lost or fall and cannot get up. Another big group are men that drink too much and pass out, and finally some that walk or drive on ice.

[@paul1979uk2000]

Solving homelessness isn't a difficult thing to do in developed countries, but there needs to be the political and public will to want to solve that, clearly in Finland there is, and looking at the success Finland is having with it, it wouldn't surprise me if other European countries follow through on that idea, especially considering that most European countries have a strong social net in place, but it usually takes one to lead by example, something Finland is doing and eventually others will follow, probably starting with the northern European countries before spreading to other European countries. As for the US, the ideology and the political system wouldn't allow this to work, so never say never but it seems highly unlikely in the US any time soon, whereas in other European countries, I can see similar ideas to the one Finland is using over the coming decades, each country being different so they can approach it in a different way to get similar results. Also, if I recall, I think European countries have far fewer homeless people than the US and far fewer people in poverty, with I think the UK having some of the highest in Western Europe, which wouldn't surprise me as the US is like a cross between Europe and America, with some of the good and bad aspects of both. We should also remember that solving homelessness could reduce crimp and boost economic growth, if there is a risk of homelessness, you're more likely to get desperate and turn to crime, if you are in a stable environment that you can get yourself back on your feet, you're more likely to be a productive member of society, many people become homeless or in deep poverty because of other factors that are out of there control, it could be from losing there job, could be bad luck and many other factors, and you do have to wonder how many people turn to crime out of desperation because things in there life are going out of control. At the end of the day, respect from the system can go a long way with the people to want to change for the better, we see this with prisons, the US treats them like animals and they end up lashing out, re-offending and causing trouble, I bet a lot of those people wouldn't behave like that if the system showed them more respect and care, so the underline problem is, fix the problem to allow people that need help to get it and allow them time to get back on their feet.

[@SaraKvammen-tx7qc]

I saw on the Doctor Phil show that some politicians suggested the sollution was to make homelessness illegal in America......the lack of empathy just boggled me.

[@blue_hour_appeared]

Yikes, what were they even implying with that? Sending homeless people to prison?

[@SaraKvammen-tx7qc]

@@blue_hour_appeared I don't know...I was just so annoyed that I turned it off after a while

[@blue_hour_appeared]

@@SaraKvammen-tx7qc Totally understand.

[@matthewgarrison-perkins5377]

I was fully employed and homeless for 11 months. My issue was all available rentals that I could afford (45% or less of my income after taxes) was owned by a few corporate entities. My wife left me during the pandemic and I was unable to continue paying rent for our home. Due to owing 2 months of back rent to my landlord, he would only give negative feedback to any other landlords, which precluded me from renting. I luckily found a company that was willing to give me a chance. Been there for 2 years now, knowing I'm a missed 2 days of pay from being back on the street. And this is in a small city in Iowa. Must be MUCH worse in big metropolitan areas...

[@rinkairiozuki7245]

Point isn't just give them home. You HAVE to give them support as well. He did said that usually they house few hundred homeless at one place, an they have professionals there as support

[@leopartanen8752]

It's also really good that the homeless in Finland practically don't live on the streets. 👍🏻

[@dooley-ch]

It is not a question of saving money in the US by solving the homeless problem, it is a question of loosing profit for all the players other than the homeless themselves of course.

[@morbid1.]

Finland: homelessness is an issue, let's fix that Murica: homelessness is an issue, let's criminalize it

[@Macvombat]

What is mind blowing isn't the extend of the homelessness problem in the US. Rather, the extend of politicians unwillingness to actually even attempt to solve the issue, is the mind blowing part.

[@ATLFinn]

In Finland, you pay the rent by obtaining other social support. The maximum the state will pay directly for rent is 80%. The other 20% comes from the living allowance money you get from another socila service support source. If you do not pay the rent, social services will step in and help you budget the living allowance money you get, and even help you apply for an increas, if needed.

[@hape3862]

In Germany, too, there is almost no homelessness (in the American sense). However, our figures are high because we count refugees in shelters and anyone without a fixed abode as "homeless" in the statistics, even though virtually no one sleeps outdoors under bridges or in tents.

[@MrsStrawhatberry]

Hawaiian natives are the ethnic group in the Us that is suffering the most of homelessness (in relation to their size, not in absolutes of course). Why that is should be pretty obvious. You took their land and made too expensive to live there for them without giving them any kind of extra credit so that they have a chance to stay in their homeland. It’s getting worse even. Private golf courses everywhere in Hawaii, rich people buying all the land, the fire in Maui, new hotels everywhere. New Zealand is a good comparison here because the Maori are from the same origin as the Hawaiian people and the colonialism was similar for them. Yet in NZ they get lots of benefits as reparations and they can basically live off of them without working (which has downsides too) but that’s basically the total opposite of what the US is doing to the natives.

[@Netbase2000]

That is why you don't just give them a apartment. You offer them a ton of social help too. They said it in the video.

[@5688gamble]

Finland has a robust welfare system, if you cannot obtain employment, your welfare would cover your rent. It is similar in the UK, I was homeless, you spoke with the council, they helped you with your benefits and found you temporary accommodation and to find permanent housing. They will help you find employment if you ask, they can help you with mental health services, addiction services, budgeting advice, care services if you are unable to take care of yourself, help to find a GP or a dentist and getting your health in order (Brits generally have better teeth than Americans because dentistry is more accessible, the stereotype is wrong), there is a robust system to protect you from being on the street (although the current government is doing their best to dismantle it!)

[@jenniferharrison8915]

Yes, our current government is trying the same thing, hopefully they will be gone soon! Australia has always had a strong society norm of helping your neighbour and all working together! Creating a divide between haves and have nots means they are more costs and less taxpayers, it's unproductive and destroys any respect the next generation may have for those less fortunate! We are all entitled to dignity, a voice, the opportunity to grow!

[@sv6847]

At 24:22 it's Temppelinaukion Kirkko. A church excavated under the Granite rock. One of the place tourist visiting.

[@MultiMam12345]

Because greed and wealth are allowed to buy houses. Because good investment. Then they rent it out and charge anything they want. People that are able to buy a house often can’t because there are not enough. Capitalism and the free market are one part of the problem. Drug abuse is criminalized in the US and not treated as a disease first.

[@janus1958]

A lot of it is a mind-set issue when it comes to dealing with these types of problems. For an example, here in the US there was a Southern state that decided to require drug tests before you could get state aid. In the end, the cost of the benefits saved by refusing people who didn't pass was less than what the testing program cost the state. IOW, they spent more money in order to make sure fewer people got benefits. But, hey, I guess that as long as some people they thought didn't deserve help didn't get it, they took it as a win. "Kicking down" tends to be encouraged.

[@DNA350ppm]

In Finland the criteria for being homeless is not similar to other countries - they just not include anyone who sleeps rough, but also include all who sleep at a shelter, or on a sofa at their friend's or otherwise don't have a secure home with a predictable contract, etc. You are not homeless if you rent a small home and it is safe and secure. (Very few people sleep rough in tents or in staircases or in abandoned buildings or garages anymore. In the early 80's it still occasionally happened, that somebody died of cold in such conditions, and some made petty crimes to get into a prison for the winter - a huge shame, and people felt really bad about it, and voters forced reforms and a change.)

[@mystisith3984]

A person sleeping in the streets is costly for the community. Lending them a small unit that has been paid 20 years ago is nothing as far as money goes & preserving dignity prevents a lot of follow up problems. Homelessness costs a lot in just cleaning the streets, police & healthcare. I've read a lot about "shelters" in the US & they are awful. Dirty, drug usage, theft is chronic... I'd rather sleep in a tent in the woods with grass under my head. There's also the charity business problem & the abhorrent building codes. Why all the hate for buildings with small studios that a lot of people living alone would need & could afford? I feel like N America is at the moment ultra predatory of its own citizens & it's not sustainable in the long term. I wish for everyone involved that this will change.

[@MrBlackfalconuk]

From Invisible People new study finds 53% of homeless people in America are employed. Not your so called guess of 98% unemployed, secondly, regulation and inspection is not a bad idea for checking on people, hence they have a support and monitoring system. The old adage of "invest in your people and you will be repaid 10 fold", the more you take off the street the more money you have coming into your economy and the knock on effect is the cost of living comes down for all.

[@erigabu1]

In Hungary, the Hungarian grovement just maked "illegal" to live in the street... real solution not have. But the police make fine the people if you live in the street, so the people just "hides away" (mostly in forrest or abandoned buildings) when live there... Thanks hungarian grovement for this "solution" ...

[@JoonaTokola]

I have lived in finland my hole life and i have never seen a homeless person in Finland.

[@Inquiringmind0]

While the problem is hard (not easy), it _is_ simple. You will always have some small segment of the population who will never be integrated completely into society. They will not work (for myriad of reasons). They will do drugs. And/or they are mentally ill. So the question is simple: Do we want those people on the street, causing crime, bothering others, stinking up everywhere they go? OR, do we put them into houses where we don't have to see them or smell them? Where it costs us less money on average. Where at least they could get some help with their problems and maybe a few _can_ actually integrate into society. I think the solution is obvious; Giving them housing is more humane, saves more money, reduces crime, cleaner streets, and you don't have to look at dirty people begging for money. As for maintaining the apartment, you could have social workers do inspections, hire companies that clean and maintain the apartments (Finland already does this), and for people who are too mentally ill to function on their own, you need to put them into mental hospitals (like we used to do). The only real problem here is we need the government to change the development rules and build more housing. Then put homeless people in touch with social workers that can help them get Social Security Disability benefits. And the process for getting benefits needs to be less strict, easier to do, and faster. Once you have SS you will automatically have Medicare and Medicaid so you now have access to medical care including mental health care. Once you have a therapist, they can help put you in touch with anything else you might need to function. This seems like the best and most obvious solution. The only other obstacle in the way is ideology. Some people just can't accept the idea of someone getting something for nothing. And as long as those people exist, it's hard to address the homelessness problem.

[@jeschinstad]

It's difficult to understand the American mind. I have experienced it many times. You tell them that we save a lot of money by giving people a home and they will always ask who's paying for that, as if the information just doesn't reach them. Cutting costs does not mean paying more. It means paying less. I've been frustrated by this many times. Reduction in crime and violence is simply good for everyone, but not least financially. Because crime is extremely expensive.

[@rogerk6180]

He says it saves the government 15k a year providing this. It does not cost anything, it SAVES MONEY. doing it this way gives your government more money to go to war, not less. Solving homelesness would be just some random side effect.

[@Manawald]

One of the reasons why there is a focus on housing is that Finland used to be poor in the past and as a small country can't afford to lose citizens to homelessness. The winters are also really cold... No sleeping in cars in Finland! Finland also has homeless shelters for emergency situations, and anyone asking for help is referred to a social worker.

[@amisudanton2109]

You should watch ”The Americas with Simon Reeve” Season 1 Episode 3 ’California’ preferrably at your own time and possibly make a video about it afterwards. I knew homelessness was an issue in the U.S. but that episode was very eye opening to me and I believe all U.S. citizens would benefit from seeing it. Also I’m a Finn btw. I don’t remember if it was in this episode or some other documentary that revealed to me a prominent less-known reason for homelessness/living in motels: basically if you ever even once for one reason or another end up defaulting on a loan, it will end up showing in your personal credit report for about 7 years(?), even if you were to correct it/make it up/pay up what you owe, the default will stay there for 7 years. And what this means is that you could be/are black listed by banks for 7 years and it makes it almost impossible to be able to attain another loan for example a new home as now banks won’t give you anything as long as you’re ”black listed”. Or something of the sort. Not really sure though so…. Do some research, look into it, don’t trust a random stranger in the internet👍🏻.

[@barborablaskova]

Slovakia have around 5 milions people also, but in 2023 according to statistic reports 71076 people were homeless, problem here is, that even we have organization which use homeless people, many denied the help, cause in all programs you must stop drinking or taking drugs, and also pay a little rent, or a small pay at shelter and try to find out work, but many claims they rather be on street than working and stop drinking, cause many of them have executions and if you work the executor take you as much as they can, until you hit living minimum - 268 eur, so if you earn for exemple 750 eur you get paid only 268 eur and 482 is taken for you loans by executor, so why work if you get practicly nothing and you can´t afford anything better then shelter with that money, so they stay at street and drink to the dead, cause if you are drunk, you cannot go to shelter and if the winter is really cold you just freeze to death....I saw many times police try to convince those people in winter to stop drinking and go to shelter, but they didn´t want to and if they are lucky someone calle them ambulance and they spend night in hospital, what is not solution and many people are pissed cause those people take clinical bed and if you need real help(not because you decide to be drunk), you may not receive one, cause there is no place in hospital for you

[@DNA350ppm]

At 24:30 the "UFO" is the roof window of "The Church in the Rock" an example of super-post-modern innovative Finnish architecture. The Church of Finland is progressive, too - building on Jesus' message that we should love our fellowmen, our brothers and sisters on Earth - it is like in the song: There but for fortune go you and I. Or like: He ain't heavy, he is my brother. The nomination is Lutheran Protestant Evangelical, but the message is nothing like the far right (in our eyes: fake) Christians in the USA. Do watch some other reports on homelessness and social solidarity in Finland.

[@utebellasteinweg3976]

In Germany, no one needs to be homeless. Some chose to live that way, but housing is covert for everybody

[@alexanderblume5377]

What's important here is that it's worth it for the state to get these people off the streets, the state "earns" €15,000 from each one. The state and we all have MORE money afterwards. I don't think the Americans can be convinced by this simple logic

[@DNA350ppm]

Consider that 20 social services workers per 100 ex-homeless persons, and their mutual support on top of that - that makes a huge difference, in contrast with the wayward helplessness in tent clusters in the streets of Portland (personally I've only seen reports on video). The kitchen at 17:15 is a simple standard kitchen for today's Finland, but it could be from another country, because in Finnish kitchens the dishes are dried on a rack above the sink out of sight, and the utensils go into a drawer. But the stove+oven look perfectly from the 1960's and so a cheap model, maybe second hand.

[@dorisschneider-coutandin9965]

The UK now tries to follow in Finland's footsteps in order to tackle homelessness, too. The inititiave is called "Homewards" spearheaded by William, The Prince of Wales. Also, the structure you saw in the footage and thought it must be an UFO - this is the Rock Church (Rock Cathedral), a very unique architectural piece. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temppeliaukio_Church

[@cindz4618]

Would also be nice if the number of billionaires who live in the different countries developed some social conscience and dug into their personal pockets to donate directly, not via govt where some money- depends on the country gets " diverted". Including royal families who have billions- which in some countries comes from the publics pocket...

[@zekevarg3043]

Many of your comments are so alien to us in the Nordic countries.

[@gearycoxon3751]

Who could possibly leave you a mean comment? Outrageous!

[@kathryndunn9142]

When I ended up homeless is was not anything to do with drugs or drink it was lack of a job and landlord wanted me out with two young kids as my landlord I first rented off sold the property and the new landlord know my tenancy was coming to an end and gave me less the two weeks to find somewhere else

[@UlliStein]

Well, everything else would be considered as "communism". If that would be true, I would be a communist too and Finland and Germany would be communist states.

[@oscarfernald9402]

Hey Ryan, like your channel a lot. Since you express so much interest in European culture, may I point you to the Eurovision Song Contest? It doesn’t get much more European than that, and it would be interesting to see how you experience that 🙂 Keep up the good work!👌🏾

[@jonasbartels1716]

The Housing First strategy actually works pretty well, not just for statistic cleaning. Around 80% of homeless people who used it were able to hold their first own home after that.

[@stewrmo]

Amazing country. I hope to visit one day.

[@animeman84]

Of course Ryan missed the point ~@12:45-homeless people in Finland have jobs so they pay rent with their paycheck.Regarding Housing First,if memory serves right,we had a trial run in New York with promising results and then for some reason we gave up and ended it 😢

[@jenniferharrison8915]

In Australia, many homeless people choose to be homeless and independent! All people receive a govt income and there are several organisations, charitable and private, who try to help them with all their needs regardless of the reason! We have housing associations of all kinds and varied accommodation options, yes in earlier times these properties were not maintained and were all placed together, but now they are located all through the suburbs giving the residents more access to normal daily society! It's tougher now because of higher mmigration and demand, but I believe our welfare policies work overall! It is very expensive to build social housing in Australia because of high import costs and wages but "camps" are not an acceptable option! 🤔

[@erikwikinggrena5375]

Im Finnish and was homeless about 6months and i did managed to get a job during homeless period and never had to stay on streets, i stayed few nights and friends and most nights i arranged that i had last shift and next morning shift and stayed at my workplace

[@kerouac2]

Finland doesn't really attract migrants due to its climate, except maybe from Russia. In my neighborhood, we have dozens of migrants from Afghanistan, Somalia and Sudan.

[@Esc3pticoSolitario]

Yeah man. It's a bit like saying "How Finland managed skin cancer"..

[@TheKentaurion]

In Finland we have now a lot of Somali, Afghan and Iranian refugees. Once a month the Somalis gather in our biggest shopping mall in Helsinki and just enjoy the company of other Somali. There are then about 500 Somalis gathered. Then they don't need to feel they are in minority. So heartwarming to see their kids running around laughing and adults discussing together. Happy to see them feeling Finland their new home.☺

[@Esc3pticoSolitario]

@@TheKentaurion and I completely agree that that is beautiful. But immigration rates there is about 0.2% whereas in Spain, for example, it's over 17. It's not the same, mate.

[@barrysteven5964]

I live in Manchester in the north of England. By tackling homelessness with the Housing First and A Bed Every Night policies rough sleeping has been cut by 50% in a few years. I have to say when you see rough sleepers now it's clear they have mental and/or addiction problems. The number of 'homeless' is hard to compare with the USA because if you're homeless the local authorities will provide temporary accommodation for you but whilst you're in that accommodation you are still classed as 'homeless' because you don't have permanent home.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

16:20 As a Finn, I think you're right and the image is not a typical home for a previously homeless person. Most Finns wouldn't have that much cookingware hanging on the wall. The rest of the kitchen looks like a typical cheap Finnish kitchen, probably from the 1990s. And it also seems that somebody bought incorrectly sized dishwasher for this kitchen because the dishwasher seems to be about 5 cm too short.

[@CarolGration]

I'm from Australia and we have a lot more homeless especially after COVID a lot were evicted or lost their jobs so ended up homeless and it's so hard. 😢

[@chansetwo]

I remember in college,many years ago, my Political Science professor mentioned that Ronald Reagan said that people are homeless because they like living outdoors. I did not believe him, until I looked it up for myself. Historically, so much of the homeless problem is the result of a lack of understanding and caring by people that should know better. It's a steep uphill battle, but I'm glad to see some progress being made.

[@psychomd1939]

I was homeless back in the 1950s, before it became so popular. I later served as mayor of a town. There is some property that the government takes because of back taxes owed. Some needs fixing up. Pay some homeless to do that, then let them live there. That, of course, would be merely a tenuous first step. Less than a year ago I saw an article that there were twice as many available jobs as there were unemployed. The homeless face barriers that housed people don't. To apply for a job it helps if you are wearing clean clothes, have a haircut, an address, transportation, et alia. As for paying the rent, there are various sources, such as SSDI. Some, more or less unemployable, could earn their rent cutting the grass, assisting the elderly and infirm. The VA could fork over a bit for that. Barbers and beauticians could offer haircuts and such maybe on alternate weekend nights. Over 30 years ago I gave a paper to a national organization at Berkeley recommending building quadplexes. 3 of the units could house 2 (1 where appropriate) people each and the 4th unit could be for rotating mental health providers to live in. There would be less need for policing and emergency medical care - by far the most costly care. Medical personnel could volunteer to provide preventive care and very basic care in the homes. Most hospitals and medical practices could easily afford to defray some of the costs. The problem is multifaceted. It requires a commitment from the government and related organizations. The homeless need to be seen as people needing our help, not problems we need to hide, ignore or eradicate.

[@JiiJiitalo]

15:52 That looks exactly like a basic rental apartment that gov will give you. You allso wondered what happens if you dont pay your rent, and where will you get money? Thats why we have basic income, goverment will pay you a small ammount of money, and will practicly pay your rent.