Invisible People: Human Beings First
& Housing First
Invisible People traveled to Finland to see the remarkable success they are having reducing homelessness.
Finland’s success is credited to the innovative Housing First—which began in North America.
Where Housing First is Used
Widely adopted in North America:
Housing First is increasingly used across the United States and Canada, with many cities implementing programs based on this model.
Origin:
The concept is often attributed to the “Pathways to Housing” program in New York City, which demonstrated the effectiveness of providing immediate housing to individuals with severe mental illness and substance use issues.
Benefits of Housing First
Increased housing stability:
Research indicates that Housing First (with constant support) can significantly improve the likelihood of individuals maintaining stable housing compared to traditional approaches.
Improved quality of life:
Access to stable housing can provide a foundation for individuals to address other challenges and improve their overall well-being.
Cost-effectiveness:
Studies suggest that Housing First can be cost-effective in the long term by reducing reliance on emergency shelters and healthcare services.
This model offers stable housing as the primary intervention, complemented by essential support services to address the root causes of homelessness and help individuals rebuild their lives.
Amid the escalating homelessness crisis in the United States, evidence-backed solutions like Housing First often take a back seat to counterproductive measures like criminalizing poverty and conducting homeless sweeps.
Skeptics argue that Finland’s achievements cannot be replicated in America, so Invisible People embarked on a transformative journey to Helsinki, Finland, to explore the potential of implementing the Housing First approach on a large scale in the United States.
Finland has embraced Housing First and witnessed an incredible reduction in homelessness, plummeting from over 20,000 homeless people to less than 4,000 in just a decade.
Below is Finland’s remarkable approach, presenting an authentic narrative that showcases the transformative power of compassionate policies, and affordable housing.
Invisible People:
Finland Solved Homelessness: Here’s How
(Spoiler—It’s More Than Housing First)
December 23, 2023
Countless media outlets have highlighted Finland’s achievements in homelessness reduction, with the Housing First model at the forefront.
Invisible People’s investigation uncovered that the Finnish approach goes beyond Housing First.
Finland’s strategy involves prioritizing the development of affordable housing and cultivating a culture genuinely dedicated to improving homeless services to house people quickly and permanently.
While Housing First has played a significant role in their success, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.
Unlike the United States, where the emphasis often lies solely on housing placement, Finland recognizes that people need more than just a roof over their heads to thrive.
In Finland, they prioritize placing the individual within the housing unit, ensuring that they have a sense of purpose rather than merely survival.
When I looked up Invisible People, the video below was at the top of their YouTube page:
Invisible People:
Homeless to Homeowner
December 31, 2024
Kensington Ave., Philadelphia, is often portrayed as hopeless—a place defined by addiction and homelessness, but stories like Kali’s prove that transformation is possible with the right support.
Kali, who once lived as a homeless drug addict on Kensington Boulevard, shares her incredible journey:
“I’ve been sober for almost a year now, and I just bought a house. I never thought this would be my life, but Prevention Point helped me believe it could be.”
Prevention Point, a nonprofit in Kensington, plays a vital role in turning lives around.
They provide harm reduction services, a low-barrier shelter, and ongoing support to people struggling with addiction and homelessness.
Their compassionate approach offers clean needles, mental health care, housing assistance, and most importantly, hope.
Kali’s story is a testament to the fact that addiction isn’t the end of someone’s journey.
Kensington doesn’t have to remain a symbol of despair. With harm reduction, we can give people the tools they need to rebuild their lives.
Invisible People is known for its dedication to telling the authentic stories of homelessness, offering viewers a raw and unfiltered glimpse into the lives of those experiencing it firsthand.
They take their commitment to authenticity to the next level by providing the most genuine and comprehensive look into Housing First that has ever been captured on video, with a mission is to shed light on the realities of homelessness, challenge preconceptions, and explore viable solutions.
The more we hold the field,
in the middle in our hearts,
and send this balance,
of the Violet Flame
out to the world,
the faster our world changes
—this is how we can help.
It seems hopeless when we look
at the areas in our cities
where the people struggle,
but we can help with the change
holding ourselves accountable
in the middle
and sending energy
so the people
with a sacred mission
to help the homeless
open to their purpose . . .
Sending the Violet Flame
helps everything.