[z33k]

Yesterday (March 5, 2025) there was a headline in the top Finnish newspaper: Shopping malls in Helsinki become a hive of homelessness <https://www.hs.fi/helsinki/art-2000011068519.html>

When it gets cold, the homeless congregate in the warm interiors of malls. The guards on duty won’t let them sleep there, but they prefer it over being out in the cold.

[mind-blight]

Yeah, it's definitely not a perfect solution. Portland, OR has tried a housing first policy. However, there weren't enough available houses, so that requires to build them. That's lead to years of people still being homeless and underserved while resources went into building homes.

I think it can help a lot under the right circumstances, but if the system is already overwhelmed then funding less permanent solutions for a while may actually be more effective and kind

[bluGill]

Building homes does not take very long if the regulations allow it. Most of the US needs to take a hard look at regulations. Often the problem is regulations won't allow a small house and so the homeless are forced on the street because they can't afford anything.

[weberer]

YLE's English section also covered it. Homelessness has risen in the past year.

https://yle.fi/a/74-20147497