In the 1940s, Helsinki tackled the housing crisis following the Second World War by means such as placing compulsory subtenants in apartments that were considered spacious. The principle of mixing different housing tenures, on the other hand, is rooted in the youth riots that took place in the Siilitie residential area in the late 1950s, which caused people to wake up to the importance of new residential areas having a diverse population structure.
A new publication by the Helsinki City Executive Office, Helsinki’s
housing policy – A historical overview and the current situation, sheds light on the historical development of housing and housing policy in Helsinki from the 1940s onwards, while also giving an overview of current housing policy decisions. The publication is illustrated with photographs from Helsinki City Museum’s collections.
Model city of solutions
Helsinki’s housing policy attracts interest both in Finland and abroad. The elements often admired in international contexts include the long-standing tradition of social mixing, successful efforts to reduce homelessness, Helsinki’s strong ownership of land, and the City having its own housing developer.
“From a housing policy perspective, Helsinki is an exemplary city in many respects, having responded successfully to many challenges during its history. One of its greatest successes has been ensuring that sufficient housing is now more easily available to all Helsinki residents than ever before. We have achieved concrete results in preventing inequality between areas with housing policy measures. In addition we’re now also responding to new challenges to ensure that our housing policy is as sustainable as possible for the environment as well as for future generations,” says Deputy Mayor for Urban Environment Anni Sinnemäki.
International Social Housing Festival in June
In June 2022, Helsinki welcomes housing experts from around the world as the host of the International Social Housing Festival. The event’s theme is the role of social housing production in the creation of a socially and ecologically sustainable city.
Another purpose of the new history of housing policy is to compile information on the phases and current state of housing and housing policy in Helsinki in a single publication for this summer’s festival guests.
The City of Helsinki organises the festival in cooperation with the Housing Finance and Development Centre of Finland (ARA) and Housing Europe.
Read the book online: Helsinki’s
housing policy – A historical overview and the current situation
International
Social Housing Festival(Link leads to external service)
Photo: Numerous
housing protests were held in Helsinki during the decades of the housing
crisis. A protest on Mannerheimintie in 1970. Helsinki City Museum /
Simo Rista