How Do Other Countries Address Their Homelessness Crises?

 

How Other Countries Address Their Homelessness Crises

Photo Credit: stringerphoto - stock.adobe.com

According to data compiled by World Population Review, 65 million people experience homelessness worldwide, a figure larger than most countries. While each nation has its own unique housing-related problems, some techniques may be applicable elsewhere. In this blog post, we will discuss how some other countries have addressed their homelessness crises and how their strategies may be applied in the United States. 

Which Countries Have Most Successfully Addressed Their Homelessness Crises? 

The two countries most frequently cited as successfully addressing their homelessness crises are Japan and Finland. The former has a national population of over 125 million, yet the number of residents experiencing homelessness is less than four thousand. [1] The latter, a significantly less populous country, is the only nation in the European Union to have experienced a decline in homelessness in the last ten years. [2] 

How Have Japan and Finland Addressed Their Homelessness Crises? 

While neither nation has made tackling homelessness their number one priority, both have devoted countless manhours, capital and other resources to finding solutions. 

For its part, Finland has succeeded for the following reasons: 

  • The conviction that housing is a fundamental human right
  • Multiple governments, even of rival coalitions, have upheld a housing-first approach
  • The government, big cities and non-governmental organizations work together to achieve radical change, and 
  • Finland has mandated that at least a quarter of all housing in a city must be affordable, social housing

As for Japan, many of the same conditions apply, including helpful legislation from successive governments supporting communities as well as cooperation between government and the nonprofit sphere. Japan has greatly reduced their homeless population through the following initiatives: 

  • Offering temporary housing provisions and employment advice
  • Implementing training courses for homeless individuals 
  • Incentivizing businesses to hire these individuals 
  • Subsidizing rent options for housing, and 
  • Delivering direct food aid

Are Any of These Solutions Practical in the United States? 

The United States is very different from both of those above-mentioned nations. Not that Japan and Finland don’t have their political divisions and social strife, but, as has been noted by many a news commentator, the United States is a politically polarized nation. There are not only arguments about how to address homelessness, but whether it is a crisis at all. Given these conditions, it will be much more difficult to invest and implement the time, money and coördination needed to solve the problem. 

However, as the richest and most powerful nation in the history of the world, the United States has all the resources it needs to tackle this crisis. All it lacks is the political will. We, the voters, have the power to change that, but it will take many years, if not generations to find it. 

Until such time as we unite to curb homelessness, Mentor A Promise and its network of partner organizations offer their services to all those who need them. 

Contact Mentor A Promise Today 

Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness. 

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