Helsinki organises warm accommodation for homeless

print this

All homeless people in Helsinki have had access to temporary shelter provided by the City of Helsinki, city officials say in a report to Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman Maija Sakslin.
      Sakslin took issue with the homeless question after making a surprise inspection on the city’s Hietaniemienkatu Service Centre in April last year.
      In the inspection it came out that on the worst days of last winter, about 20 people had to sleep on the floors, hallways, smoking room, and bathrooms of the centre.
     
After the inspection, Sakslin urged Helsinki to set up sufficient 24-hour services for substance abusers and the homeless.
      Helsingin Sanomat reported after the inspection that on the first freezing night of the winter, the City of Helsinki was not able to provide sufficient shelter for all of those who were homeless.
      The article prompted Sakslin to ask the City of Helsinki for a report on how the housing situation for the homeless had improved after the April inspection. The City said that it was aware of the need for temporary housing and that it drafted a plan for increasing housing already before the article was published.
     
in a new report submitted to the Deputy Ombudsman, the City of Helsinki says that it has increased the capacity of temporary housing, and is now able to offer a place to stay for all homeless.
      The city’s Social Services Department said that it is keeping abreast of changes in demand for temporary housing, and that all those who need a place to stay will have one.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Bitter cold fills shelters for the homeless (23.2.2011)
  Homeless people go underground to escape the cold (12.1.2010)

See also:
  Helsinki’s homeless people reject placement of Roma beggars at their shelters (29.3.2011)

Helsingin Sanomat