Many travelers who visit Finland’s capital, Helsinki, notice something that’s very different from the other cities they’ve been to. There are no homeless people on the streets.

In fact, Finland is the only country in the European Union where homelessness is falling thanks to new initiatives.

“In my childhood, I remember there were hundreds or even thousands of people sleeping in the parks and forests,” says Helsinki’s deputy mayor Sanna Vesikansa.

“It was visible, but we don’t have it anymore. Street homelessness doesn’t exist in Helsinki.“

Homelessness was once a big problem in Helsinki as well as other cities across Finland. In fact, in 1987 there were more than 18,000 homeless people in the capital. Three decades later, it fell to about 6,600 people in 2017. 

However, thanks to a plan that took years to organize and implement, street homelessness no longer exists in Helsinki.

Just over a decade ago, a social scientist, a doctor, a politician, and a bishop came up with the Housing First principle. This means that the government will give housing to someone without making them jump through hoops in order to do so. In cities across the world, many homeless must apply for housing or go through a program before they are “rewarded” with accommodations. 

But not in Finland.

“It was clear to everyone the old system wasn’t working; we needed a radical change,” says Juha Kaakinen, one of the original four. 

“We decided to make the housing unconditional,” says Kaakinen. “To say, look, you don’t need to solve your problems before you get a home. Instead, a home should be a secure foundation that makes it easier to solve your problems.”

Government agencies and NGOs came together to support the program: apartments were bought, new blocks of buildings were built, and old shelters were converted into permanent and comfortable homes.

“We had to get rid of the night shelters and short-term hostels we still had back then. They had a very long history in Finland, and everyone could see that they were not getting people out of homelessness. We decided to reverse the assumptions.” notes Juha. 

The results don’t lie: Since its launch in 2008, the number of long-term homeless people in Finland has fallen by more than 35% thanks to the 3,500 new homes created by Housing First.  

The cost of this program is steep but worth it. Finland has spent 250 million euros to create new homes and hire 300 support workers. However, the government now saves more than 15,000 Euros per year in emergency healthcare, social services, and the justice system for every homeless person in properly supported housing.

Although homelessness is not completely eradicated in Finland — there are about 5,500 people who are still officially classified as homeless — these social programs are doing their part to keep people off the streets. 

In fact, the program was so successful that countries such as France, Australia, and the UK are now looking into implementing similar models to counteract homelessness.

As one resident notes, “It’s a big miracle… I’ve slept rough. I’ve never had my own place. This is huge for me.”

Denmark regularly makes its way to the top of lists such as “Happiest People”, “The Best Countries to Live In”, and “The Best Countries To Be A Parent”. The entire Danish culture and the country are influenced by a carefree, happy, and laid-back way of living. Which makes it all the harder to imagine the rough times the Danes had to endure during the Nazi occupation of Denmark during WW2.

May 5th holds significance to the Danes since this was the day they were liberated from the Occupation. But what might possibly be even more special is the tradition that takes place the evening before the 5th of May.

It was on April 9, 1940, that the Nazis invaded self-proclaimed neutral Denmark with the excuse that they were saving Denmark from a potential British occupation. Germany marched right into the small Scandinavian country, with the true intent being to get closer to Norway.

The occupation was at first considered somewhat mild, with the King of Denmark and the government still ruling in de facto. But on August 29, 1943, the country was placed under direct military occupation, months after Adolf Hitler took offense to the Danish king’s short reply, to his long and heartfelt birthday telegram to the king. In a matter of days, Hitler had removed his ambassador from Denmark and sent the Danish ambassador in Germany back home. Adolf Hitler now wanted to crack down on Denmark.

It was at this time that a more organized, powerful, and aggressive resistance started growing in Denmark. Many had already joined the allied forces but now the Danes who were still in Denmark decided to fight the Nazis from the inside. The resistance collaborated with the allied armies, especially the Brits, in the hopes of putting a stop to the Nazis from within. The Danish Resistance Movement was born.

You can read more about the Danish Resistance Movement here.

It is estimated that around 3,000 Danes died as a direct result of the Nazi occupation.

So every year, on the evening of May 4th, the Danes will light candles, perhaps in honor of a parent, grandparent, or sibling. They place the candles in their windows so that anyone who passes by will be reminded of the brave Danes who gave their lives for Danish freedom.

This article was originally published on May 6, 2019.

Featured image: Jens Nørgaard Larsen/Scanpix Denmark