Homelessness:

Transitional Housing
vs. Permanent Housing

Abigail Neeley
 Table of contents*
1. 2. 3.
Severity of the Policy Goals Eligibility Criteria
problem and Services
Offered

4. 5.
Funding Policy Outcomes Changes in
Transitional
Housing
Severity of
Homelessness
United States Finland
● Affects about 580,000 ● Affects about 5,000 people
people (0.18% of (0.08% of country’s
country’s population) population)
● 60% of this population ● 74% of this population are
are men men
● 30% are considered ● 21% are considered
chronically homeless chronically homeless
● About half of the ● A quarter of the homeless
homeless population live population are immigrants
in cities, with more than ● About 60% of the homeless
20% living in Los population live in cities
Angeles and New York
City alone
Policy Goals
United States: Transitional Housing
• Transitional or Temporary Housing
• Stabilize people who are experiencing
difficulties with mental health or
substance abuse
• Provide interim support through classes
and counseling
• Enhance life, personal, and family skills
• Eliminate substance abuse
• Help those who are homeless to
transition to self-sufficiency and
permanent housing within 12 months
Finland: Permanent Housing
• “Permanent housing first” rather than “housing first”
• Focusing only on housing first and then assisting with
other needs once permanent housing has been secured
• Reducing the number of temporary housing facilities
of shelters and replacing them with permanent
housing
• Allowing for people to make their own personal
choices: clients have a choice throughout the
rehabilitation process (not required to give up alcohol,
drugs, etc.)
• Connection with friends and family
• Economic stability
• Integration into a community and society
 Eligibility Criteria and
Services Offered
United States: Transitional Housing
• Changes depending on the state/program,
many programs require sobriety for a
certain period Must be considered
chronically homeless (homeless for at
least a year)
• Provide shelter and food for a temporary
period, can also provide extended
residence shelter (group homes, host
family homes, etc.)
• Assists people with primary care and
provides medical assistance
• Teaches classes (life skills, parenting
classes, etc.) to assist in life following
transitional housing
Finland: Permanent Housing
• Anyone who is considered
homeless (sleeping outside or
in shelters, moving from
temporary housing locations,
prisoners released who do not
have housing arranged, etc.)
• Provides permanent housing
and other resources such as
counselors, classes, etc.
• Provides services that are
already accessible through
the government
 Funding
United States: Transitional
Housing
• Family Youth and Services
Bureau provides funding and
grants for transitional living
programs across the United
States
• United States Department of
Housing and Urban
Development provides
grants to communities who
are experiencing higher rates
of homelessness
• Continuum of Care and
Emergency Solutions Grant
Finland: Permanent Housing
• Y-Foundation
• Works with non-
governmental
organizations to provide
permanent housing and
reduce housing costs
• Social assistance funding
• Assistance from the
Finnish government
Population in Need vs.
Population Served
United States: Transitional Housing
• Since the majority of the
homeless population is male,
many transitional housing
programs have more spaces
open for men
• Many transitional housing
facilities have a
disproportionate arrangement
for beds open and the
population affected
• Ex: Hillcrest has 45 pods for
men and 5 for women
Finland: Permanent Housing
• Has created over 3,500
permanent housing
apartments/homes to
accommodate the homeless
population of about 4,000
• Majority of permanent housing
is given to the male population
proportionally
 Policy Outcomes
United States: Transitional Housing
• Since the start of the policy,
homelessness has decreased by
8%
• One study found that about
70% of individuals were able
to find permanent housing
following graduation from
transitional housing
• Decrease in substance use by
about 55% following
completion of transitional
housing
Finland: Permanent Housing
• Since the start of the program about
15 years ago, the homeless
population has declined by about
30%
• Number of chronically homeless
individuals has decreased by about
35%
• The number of temporary housing
facilities and shelters have greatly
reduced while supported housing has
significantly increased
• Finland is the only country where
the homeless rate is declining
 Changes/Strategies for
Transitional Housing
• Allocate the number of transitional housing units to proportionally
fit the demographics for the homeless population in the United
States
• Remove sobriety requirement within transitional housing,
including the 90-day sobriety requirement prior to transitional
housing for some programs
• Reduce qualifications for time spent homeless to be eligible for
transitional housing
• Offer similar services to people who are not yet considered
chronically homeless and are not eligible for transitional housing
programs
• Allow longer stays in transitional housing (more than 12-24
months)
• To make changes in transitional housing, appeals can be made to
organizations that provide grants to fund transitional housing, such
as United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
Citations
Early. (2018, May 4). Y-Foundation. World Habitat. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from
https://world-habitat.org/world-habitat-awards/winners-and-finalists/y-foundation/

Hayes. (2019). Life After Transition. Life After Transitional Housing. Retrieved April 17, 2023, from
https://www.huduser.gov/portal/publications/LifeAfterTransition.pdf

Janech. (n.d.). Homelessness Resources: Housing and Shelter. SAMHSA. Retrieved April 19, 2023, from
https://www.samhsa.gov/homelessness-programs-resources/hpr-resources/housing-shelter

Rhei. (n.d.). Transitional living program fact sheet. The Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved
April 15, 2023, from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/fact-sheet/transitional-living-program-fact-sheet

Y-Foundation. (2020). A home of Your Own. Retrieved April 15, 2023, from
https://www.feantsaresearch.org/download/a_home_of_your_own_lowres_spreads6069661816957790483.p
df