Finland Times

Immigrants are increasingly becoming homeless despite the general level of homelessness dropping, according to a report compiled by the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA).

The report stated that the number of homeless immigrants last year stood at nearly 2,000. On the whole, the number of homeless people decreased in 2013, as there were 7,500 homeless individuals and 420 homeless families.

The number of individual homeless cases dropped by 350, while the number of long time homeless people decreased by 80 in 2013.

The number of homeless immigrant families accounted for more than half of the total number of homeless families in the country.

The report also established that most of the homeless people resided with either relatives or with acquaintances.

The number of homeless people has also decreased in large cities like Tampere and Kuopio, but increased in Vantaa and Espoo. In Helsinki, the number of homeless people remained the same as in 2012.