If one city can reduce homelessness by 70%, why not another?

Photo: Micah Projects team tours Brisbane Common Ground and Inclusive Health Clinic in South Brisbane with international Housing First expert Juha Kaakinen and Sue Pope, CEO of partner, Common Ground Queensland. Left to Right: Paul Davidraj, Patrick Silvey, Sally Upton, Prof. Juha Kaakinen, Karyn Walsh, Leanne Papas, Sue Pope, Prof. Cameron Parsell

Last week, we were fortunate to have Juha Kaakinen visit Mich Projects and Brisbane Common Ground supportive housing. Juha is Professor of Practice, Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University and former CEO of Y-Foundation, Finland’s largest NGO program to reduce long-term homelessness.

Juha is one of the world’s leading architects of the Housing First approach, an approach that provides permanent housing before conditions are met. Under Juha’s leadership, Finland saw homelessness decrease dramatically. In Helsinki alone, single-person homelessness dropped by over 70% between 2008 and 2016. Family homelessness has been largely eradicated.

Juha explained that these results relied on effective collaboration, Bipartisan commitment, state-municipal-NGO collaboration and changing public perception. These were key to systemic success. Not new legislation.

“Homelessness is not going to be solved with any paper. You need to act,” Juha says.

The nature of homelessness today is evolving, many have complex trauma, mental health or addiction issues requiring longer term, unconditional and flexible support. Juha warned against commodifying trauma and stressed the value of compassion and moral commitment in professional practice.

Here in South-East Queensland, local governments are choosing punitive measures in how they treat people sleeping rough in parks, cars and public spaces if they do not move on or refuse shelter, all while there is not enough shelter or housing available.

In the United States actions are targeting the poorest people, driving them into the criminal justice system, while there is not enough shelter or housing available. Some municipalities are calling for the arrest of people who are homeless.

Research undertaken in the US Bay Area in 2022 found at that time, 64 people were regularly sleeping in People’s Park, many were chronically homeless, in some cases having stayed in and around People’s Park for decades. When the park closed 85% moved to interim housing options or a more permanent housing arrangement. Within a year, 70% had moved into permanent housing or were in the process of securing it. These people were not “shelter resistant” or “voluntarily homeless”.

“Arresting our neighbors in poverty is not the solution. Our focus needs to be on professional outreach and developing shelters where people have privacy and safety,” researchers said.

What made the difference in Finland and the Bay Area?

Dignity, wrap-around support, and long term or permanent housing.

The approach?

Put housing first. Not after paperwork is completed. Not when someone is ‘ready’, but immediately, as a foundation for healing and lasting change.

We know what works to end homelessness, based on evidence from other communities who have successfully worked towards solving homelessness. We also know what doesn’t work.

By prioritising compassionate, trauma-informed care and permanent, supportive housing, Micah Projects is part of a global movement that treats dignity as the starting point.

Want to know more?

Read how the Housing First approach is integral to Micah Projects' Strategic Roadmap.

Learn how Supportive Housing aligns and contributes to the Housing First approach in Brisbane.

See the Housing First Roadmap that’s been guiding us since 2016 in Brisbane.