You can rely on us for guidance on various housing-related matters, such as applying for housing, navigating rental agreements, or seeking advice if you're unable to make rent payments. It's important to address these challenges proactively to prevent them from becoming overwhelming.
You can access our services through chatbot Hester, available Mon-Fri 9.00-15.00 in Finnish and English. Additionally, you can schedule an appointment to meet us in person at any of our locations in Haaga, Herttoniemi, Kalasatama and Malmi. In Maunula, we also serve homeless people in need of counselling who have no need for other social work services.
Chatbot Hester is available 24/7 and can be found in the bottom right corner of the page. Through the chat service, you have the option to remain anonymous or utilise strong authentication for personal matters as well.
What should I do when housing costs change?
There will be changes to Kela's general housing allowance in 2024, and they may have an impact on your income. Most of the changes to the general housing allowance will take effect on 1 April 2024 and the housing allowances currently in payment to households will be adjusted to the new rules when they are next reviewed. A further change is that general housing allowance will no longer be paid for owner-occupied homes starting 1 January 2025. (Kela, 2023)
If you have challenges coping with rent payments or other daily expenses, see the instructions on what to do in the following situations.
First, use Kela's calculator to assess whether you are entitled to general housing allowance.
Go to Kela's housing allowance calculator (Link leads to external service)
If the calculator indicates that you could be entitled to housing allowance, you can apply for it either in OmaKela E-service or on a printed application. OmaKela is available in Finnish and Swedish only.
Alternatively, you can complete, print out and send your application by post along with the supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Application form for general housing allowance (pdf)(Link leads to external service)
If your circumstances change, you must report the changes to Kela either in OmaKela E-service or on a printed application form.
See instructions for reporting changes on Kela's website(Link leads to external service)
How to apply for a review of your housing allowance in the Omakela E-service:
- 1. Log in to OmaKela.
- On the front page, select the relevant benefit.
- Under the benefit, select “Elämäntilanteeni on muuttunut” (My circumstances have changed).
- Complete the application and send it to Kela.
Alternatively, you can complete, print out and send your application by post along with the supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Application form for general housing allowance (pdf)(Link leads to external service)
You can use the calculator to estimate whether you are entitled to Kela's basic social assistance. The calculator is available in Finnish and Swedish only.
Go to Kela's social assistance calculator(Link leads to external service)
If the calculator indicated that you could be entitled to basic social assistance, you can apply for it either in OmaKela E-service or on a printed application form.
See Kela's instructions for applying for basic social assistance(Link leads to external service)
Alternatively, you can complete, print out and send your application by post along with the supporting documents to Kela, PL 10, 00056 KELA.
Application form for basic social assistance (pdf)(Link leads to external service)
Social assistance is a last-resort and a means-tested form of financial assistance. The wellbeing services counties or the City of Helsinki may also provide you with preventive social assistance, which is often associated with social work.
See instructions for applying for Supplementary or preventive social assistance
Could you reduce your housing costs or increase your income? You can find tips and tools for this on the Guarantee Foundation website.
Go to Guarantee Foundation(Link leads to external service)
You can try to look for more affordable housing. We have collected the rental housing agents in the Helsinki region on the page below.
See Rental apartments in the Helsinki area
Would it be possible for you to increase your income? Vacancies can be found, for example, on Job Market Finland.
You can contact housing counselling. We serve you in Sotebotti Hester's chat Mon-Fri 9-15 and at our offices by appointment. We provide counselling also in English.
Contact adult social work. If you are not yet our customer, you can contact a service point in your area either by calling or visiting us on site. You can find the contact information on the websites listed below.
Go to page Adult social work for young people
Go to the page Adult social work for people over the age of 30
Find your own service point
You can find your own service point based on the postal code of your residential area. You can check your own service area from here. Our service points can be found at the bottom of the page.
Note! We also provide assistance to social services clients over the phone. You can find our contact information on the pages of our respective service points at the bottom of the page.
We cater to clients residing in the following postal code areas: 00280–00440, 00250 (part), 00270.
Go to the web page of Haaga service point
We cater to clients residing in the following postal code areas: 00590, 00800, 00840–00890, 00900–00990.
We cater to clients residing in the following postal code areas: 00100–00220, 00240–00260, 00500–00580, 00600, 00610, 00800–00830, 00880.
Go to the web page of Kalasatama service point
We cater to clients residing in the following postal code areas: 00620–00760, 00780, 00790.
Go to the web page of Malmi service point
Are you temporarily without housing and have no need for other social work? We provide guidance and counselling for homeless people seeking housing by appointment or via phone.
Only by appointment.
Call + 358 (0)9 310 34756 (Link starts a phone call) or + 358 (0)9 310 23354.(Link starts a phone call)
Information elsewhere
You can also find this page at hel.fi/housing-counselling .
