Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
868. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the Finnish model of ending homelessness; if he plans to implement a similar model here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37759/23]
View answerSupporting individuals and families facing homelessness is a key Government priority. Through Housing for All, the Government’s strategic housing plan to 2030, the Government is committed to taking action to prevent entries into homelessness in the first instance and to help those experiencing homelessness to exit into secure and sustained tenancies.
The causes of homelessness are complex and individual to each country. The success that Finland has had in combatting homelessness is to be commended and demonstrates that tackling the causes of homelessness, and preventing it in the first place, are key to eradicating homelessness altogether.
Mutual learning is an important tool in combatting homelessness, and to this end my Department and I continue to engage with the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness. My Department has participated in several Mutual Learning Events of the platform over past two years, and continue to do so. These events present opportunities to learn from the approaches of all other member states. The next such event will be held in Brussels in October and will focus on the use of homelessness data in policy making. Separately, delegations from Finland have visited my Department twice in the last 18 months to discuss homelessness and housing.
A key aspect of tackling homelessness in Finland has been the use of the Housing First model. Housing for All committed to the further expansion of Housing First. A new National Implementation Plan, which provides for a further 1,319 tenancies covering the period 2022-2026, was published in December 2021. 373 tenancies have been established under the current National Implementation Plan. 923 individuals are currently in a Housing First tenancy, and Housing First remains a vital tool in combatting long term homelessness.
As well as focusing on the Housing First model in its plans to tackle homelessness, the Finnish government has also placed an emphasis on homelessness prevention, and the most important structural element of this prevention has been an increase in affordable and social housing supply.
