Since the 1980s, the government in Finland has been trying to reduce homelessness. Short-term shelters were built, but long-term homeless people were still left out. There were too few emergency shelters and too many affected people did not manage to get out of homelessness:
Much like the US, Finnish people couldn’t find jobs without a housing address. And without any job, they couldn’t find a home. Furthermore, they had problems applying for social benefits, leading to feeling trapped in their circumstances. It’s a vicious circle that unfortunately continues to exists in this country.
However, in 2008, the Finns began applying what they call the “Housing First” concept. Those affected by homelessness now receive a small apartment and counseling, without any preconditions. 4 out of 5 people affected (~80%) make their way back into a stable life, and somehow, all this is still cheaper than simply accepting homelessness.
The “Housing First” policy reverses conventional homeless aid. More often, those affected are expected to look for a job and free themselves from existing psychological problems or addictions. Only then can they get help in finding accommodation. “Housing First”, on the other hand, reverses this process: Homeless people get a home as well as assistance with applications for social benefits and counseling with social workers. In such a new, secure situation, it is significantly easier for those experiencing homelessness to find a job and take care of their physical and mental health. What a concept, treating human being like human beings. Must be nice.
Side Items
Ruining A Good Thing: What’s in a shoe? Take the Adidas Samba, for instance, the shoe my father would always recommend when we were shoe shopping growing up. Up until 2011, Adidas didn’t offer the Samba in any color other than black. Before that, the sneaker had undergone only relatively minor design changes over the prior 60 years. It was introduced as a chunky winter soccer boot in 1950, and in the 1960’s the silhouette was sleekened down to a gum-soled soccer sneaker. Now apparently the TikTok teens have discovered the magic of the classic Samba and they justifiably got obsessed, raising the price and profile of the shoe in the process
Fetty Wap’s Downfall: The cycloptic rapper was sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a New York-based drug-trafficking endeavor. The man best known for tracks like “Trap Queen”, whose legal name is Willie Maxwell, pleaded guilty in August 2022 to a conspiracy drug charge that carried a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.
Nice Try Ronald: Ron DeSantis launched his official 2024 presidential campaign last night in a disastrous Twitter announcement that did little to project confidence or counter criticism that the 44-year-old may not be ready to take on Trump. DeSantis’ unusual decision to announce his campaign online alongside Twitter CEO Elongated Muskrat ultimately backfired. The audio stream crashed repeatedly, making it near impossible for most users to hear the new presidential candidate in real time. An inauspicious start to what will surely be a garbage fire of a campaign
Tina Turner Turned: The queen of rock, whose infectious energy and unique rasp made her one of the most successful recording artists of all time, transitioned to the next life yesterday at the age of 83. Madam Turner lived out her days at her Swiss estate, Küsnacht, near Zurich. May we all grow old enough to enjoy our final years in an $80 million Swiss chateau with our loved ones. Tina was born Anna Mae Bullock in a segregated hospital in Tennessee and spent her final years on a 260,000 square foot estate on Lake Zurich. She overcame so much in her life: Physically beaten, emotionally devastated and left financially ruined by her 20-year relationship with Ike Turner, Tina became a superstar on her own in her 40’s, at a time when most of her peers were on their way down. May we all live long enough to see our wildest dreams come to fruition