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The episode discusses the connection between the expensive housing market and homelessness, emphasizing the importance of human rights. Despite legal frameworks, many people still lack adequate housing. Factors contributing to urban homelessness include urban migration, restrictive zoning laws, lack of public housing funding, and speculative real estate practices. In Finland, housing challenges are evident in the growing waiting list for public housing and rising rents in the private sector. Government cuts to housing benefits and social support further hinder people's ability to afford housing. The Housing First model in Finland provides immediate housing without conditions, but it may not address long-term support needs. International recommendations for Finland include increasing emergency shelter capacity, affordable housing availability, and access to social support for special groups. Immigrants face challenges in the housing market, such as exploitation and unstable living condi Welcome to Urban Social Work Issues. I'm Kaisa. Today's episode tackles a critical and complex issue, the expensive housing market and resulting homelessness, which are not just economic or social concerns, but are deeply rooted in human rights. According to international agreements, like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25, the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 11, and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, everyone is entitled to an adequate standard of living and housing. Our guest today is Roosa Maria, a social work student specializing in structural and urban social work. Together we will unpack the multiphase dimensions of homelessness in urban settings, particularly here in Finland. Hello, Roosa Maria. Welcome to the show. As a future social worker deeply engaged with urban issues, how do you see these human rights being challenged in our cities today? Thank you so much for having me, Kaisa. It's evident that despite strong legal frameworks, many people are still without a home or live in inadequate conditions. This discrepancy highlights the gap between policy and reality, showing that rights on paper do not always translate into rights in practice. Indeed, Roosa Maria. But let's dive deeper into what's causing urban homelessness. What are the main drivers behind this issue? There are multiple factors. Urban migration continues to increase as people search for better opportunities. However, the housing supply hasn't kept up due to restrictive zoning laws, lack of public housing funding, and speculative real estate practices. This mismatch leads to skyrocketing housing costs, making it unaffordable for many, particularly low-income earners and marginalized groups. That is interesting. Can you share some specific examples or data from Finland that illustrate these challenges? Certainly. In Helsinki, for instance, the waiting list for public housing has been growing yearly. Moreover, the rents in the private sector have risen significantly in the past decade, pushing more people towards precarious living situations. The housing situation in Helsinki sounds rough. Also recently, there have been concerns about government cuts in housing and social support. How might these affect people's ability to afford housing? The new government cuts to housing benefits and social support are deeply concerning. These reductions directly impact people's ability to pay for housing. With less financial assistance, the problem of homelessness could potentially grow even further, as more individuals might find it difficult to afford their current living situations. Indeed, Roosmarja. Also, Finland is often cited as a success story for its implementation of the Housing First model. Could you explain what makes this model effective and its potential limitations? Housing First, asunto, ends in Finnish, is revolutionary in that way that it offers immediate housing without preconditions, like sobriety or employment. This approach respects the person's right to housing and provides stability, which is crucial for addressing other personal challenges. However, a limitation is that while it addresses the immediate need for shelter, it doesn't always integrate with long-term social support or tackle the root causes of homelessness, such as mental health or employment support, which are critical for sustainable independence. Those were great points, Roosmarja. Finland has also received recommendations from international human rights monitoring bodies to address several issues. Could you tell us more about these issues? Yes. These recommendations include increasing emergency shelter capacity, especially for women, increasing the availability of affordable housing nationwide, and ensuring access to social support for special groups, such as those without credit history or with debt indicators, as well as preventing discrimination against immigrants and gender minorities in housing agencies. Those recommendations sound very needed. Also, Roosmarja, in your work with immigrant populations, have you come across specific challenges they face in the housing market? Yes, indeed. While working as a social worker in special services for immigrants, it was common to hear that a client had paid someone for the mediation of an apartment in Helsinki. This is not a usual practice in Finland, and in these situations, the immigrant's lack of knowledge has been exploited, which is definitely a problem. Additionally, immigrants often use rental agencies where no security deposit is required, but rents can rise very rapidly. These practices can lead to unstable living conditions and make it difficult for immigrants to find secure and affordable housing. It sounds like there's a need for more transparent and regulated approaches to assist immigrants in navigating the housing market. What kind of support can social workers provide in these situations? The way I see it, social workers can play a crucial role in providing information and guidance to immigrants about their rights and the typical processes involved in renting in Finland. Educating them about fair rental practices and connecting them with reputable services would help mitigate these issues. Advocating for policy changes that ensure greater protection against exploitation in the housing market is also vital. Those were very great points. Based on your studies and observations, what policy changes or social work interventions would you recommend to better address urban homelessness in Finland? We need a multi-pronged approach. Enhancing emergency shelter capacity, especially tailored for vulnerable groups like women and immigrants, is crucial. Additionally, social work professionals can play a significant role in policy advocacy, ensuring that housing policies are inclusive and address the needs of all community members, including implementing anti-discrimination measures in housing practices. It sounds like there's a need for more integrated services and policies. How do you envision the future of social work in relation to urban housing issues? Social workers should be at the forefront of urban planning and housing policy discussions. We as social workers can bring a human-centered perspective that can drive policies to be more equitable. Engaging with communities to understand their needs and advocating for systemic changes will be essential for effective social work in the future. Rosmaria, thank you so much for sharing your insights and shedding light on these critical issues. It is clear that tackling homelessness effectively requires commitment at all levels, from individual action to systemic change. We appreciate your perspective on how we can move towards a more just and equitable society. Thank you so much for having me, Kaisa. It's been great discussing these issues with you and learn about them in the Urban and Structural Social Work course. I hope our conversation inspires others to act and advocate for those in need. You've been listening to Urban Social Work Issues. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with your friends and subscribe to our channel for more discussions and insights. Thanks for tuning in and goodbye until next time!