Problem addressed

Homelessness has increased by 70% across the EU in the past decade. It is one of the most severe forms of poverty, stemming from a complex mix of structural, institutional, and individual factors. According to the European Parliament (2020), member states should decriminalize homelessness and ensure equal access to essential public services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare.

For young people, independence means learning to live responsibly and manage everyday life. This includes forming an identity, handling financial insecurity, establishing routines, and maintaining a home. Neuropsychiatric conditions, mental health challenges, or substance use issues can make these tasks more difficult. Living alone can increase feelings of loneliness, which in turn may worsen mental health and lead to social isolation.

Substance use can result in unpaid rent, poor upkeep of the home, or disruptive behavior—all of which increase the risk of eviction. Irregular routines make it hard to take responsibility for daily tasks, and the lives of people experiencing homelessness or addiction are often unstable and unsafe. Financial difficulties can lead to debt, which may result in housing loss.

Landlords may hesitate to rent to individuals with a history of rent arrears, disruptive behavior or criminal records, even if those issues have been resolved. Stigma and prejudice can still create significant barriers to accessing housing.

Immigrants may face discrimination in the rental market, even when they are reliable and financially stable. Names, ethnic backgrounds, or religious affiliations can trigger bias. Research shows that people with a migratory background face more difficulty accessing private rental housing than the general population.

The societal cost of one marginalized young person over their lifetime is estimated at 1,2 million. For one person experiencing homelessness, the annual cost can exceed 50 000€.

Innovative solution

In Finland, homelessness prevention has not been addressed in this way before. We have developed a low-threshold coaching model that has proven effective. It is a preventive method that allows us to measure both impact and outcomes.

Our training program is built around peer support and experiential learning. It consists of the following modules:

1.The Meaning of Home
Participants reflect on why a home is important and what kinds of emotions and memories are connected to it.

2.Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
This module introduces tenant rights, such as those related to renovations, rental agreements, and fair housing practices. It also covers important responsibilities like following house rules and maintaining the home.

3.Maintaining a Home and Housing Safety
Participants learn how to keep their home clean and in good condition, and how to ensure fire safety and other basic living standards.

4.Daily Life and Financial Skills
This section helps participants build everyday routines, understand their financial habits, and prioritize bill payments in a manageable order.

5.Digital Housing Skills
Topics include moving checklists, home insurance, electricity contracts, government services, and social benefits. Participants also learn how to use digital tools such as laundry booking systems and online platforms for signing rental agreements.

6.Connecting with Neighbors and the Local Community
This module focuses on building relationships with neighbors, becoming familiar with nearby services, and exploring local opportunities for hobbies or participation.

7.Caring for Personal Well-being
Participants learn to identify what supports their well-being and what might weaken it, and how these factors can affect their ability to live independently.

The training is free of charge for all participants. It is designed to be fully accessible, so that individuals with physical, cognitive, or sensory challenges can use the service and understand the materials.

Upon completion, each participant receives a certificate, which they can include in housing applications. The training is available through our online learning platform and can be completed independently or together with a support person. The platform can be accessed at opi.aspa.fi.

Peer support is at the core of our approach. When advice is given by someone who has faced similar challenges, it creates trust, strengthens connection, and empowers people to engage with the services they need.

We also reach young people through social media, especially on TikTok. We have brought our work to where young people already are. Our housing skills videos and live sessions offer accessible support and allow us to connect through anonymous interaction in our Ask About Housing coaching sessions.

Key results and benefits

The Driving License for Independent Living program has reached a total of 754 people in need of support through group coaching, one-on-one sessions, and online training. Of those participants, 97 percent reported improved housing skills. Additionally, 89 percent of those who completed the training continued living in their homes without disturbances, warnings, evictions or rent arrears.

Through the program, 15 people experiencing long-term homelessness have found permanent housing. All of them, 100 percent, succeeded in maintaining their housing over a one-year follow-up period.

The program has clearly proven to be an effective way to support people in housing, daily life and their transition to independent living. It has also succeeded in reaching those most in need.

Every participant, 100 percent, said that the presence of a peer expert made it easier to take part in the training and helped them feel more connected to society.

One participant shared this feedback:
"Now they called me back from social services. We scheduled a phone appointment for 6.6.2025. A huge thank you for encouraging me and helping me move forward. I know that this will help me get my life back on track and eventually I’ll be able to live a normal working life."

Through the Driving License for Independent Living, we have helped more than 15 long-term homeless participants find permanent homes.

Potential for mainstreaming

The perspective of homelessness prevention should play a more prominent role in political discussion.
Young people are especially vulnerable, as their ability to manage independent life is often still developing. 

When we deliver housing skills coaching in schools, child welfare institutions, prisons, and supported housing units, we meet young people who are in the process of transitioning to independence. Some of them have already faced significant setbacks, which have led to supported housing or even homelessness.

Society expects young adults to be capable, self-sufficient, and able to participate in working life. However, the conditions for reaching that goal are not equal for everyone. A young person’s background and current situation matter a great deal. If a young person has mismanaged their housing or finances due to a lack of hope or knowledge about the future, it should not be assumed that they are a lost cause. They need help and support.

The Driving License for Independent Living is a concrete and practical way to prevent youth homelessness. It also helps to stop worsening situations for those who already struggle with housing issues or have experienced eviction. In practice, we use peer support to help people without housing find their way back home, reconnect with society, and engage with services. This contributes to greater social safety and cohesion at a community level.

Could housing skills be taught already in school?

The coaching model is easily transferable to other countries with only minor adjustments. Peer support, used as a means of fostering social inclusion, can be implemented immediately. The model fits well within both third-sector organizations and public social and healthcare systems, and it has proven effective in practice.
There is a clear unmet need among immigrant communities, which we have not yet been able to fully address due to limited resources. Our aim is to respond to this need more effectively in the future through the same coaching model.
Immigrants arriving from non-EU countries are often unfamiliar with local housing systems and expectations. Practices may differ significantly from those in their home countries. In Finland, for example, there have been instances where food has been cooked on open flames on the floor or on modified stoves, posing serious safety risks. Unfortunately, a lack of information has led to accidents.
Immigrants also face significant challenges in accessing housing, including poverty, language barriers and lack of legal documentation. Segregation, where low-income immigrant populations become concentrated in specific areas, can further deepen exclusion.
The coaching model creates opportunities for cultural exchange and shared learning between immigrants and native-born residents. People who have already integrated into society can act as peer coaches and help others find their way forward.
International added value:
-Preventing youth homelessness and social exclusion
-Supporting individuals who are already experiencing homelessness
-Promoting successful integration of immigrants into society and housing through coaching
-Using social media platforms to teach practical independent living skills