RESIDENTS and staff ventured to Finland to study anti-homelessness policies to bring back to Bournemouth.

Six people visited Helsinki and met with members of the Y-Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping pioneer the Housing First strategy.

Finland is also the inspiration behind Prince William’s Homewards project currently being piloted in Dorset.

Julie Berti, founder and CEO of Hope HTS, said: “Finland continues to lead the world with innovative and effective solutions to homelessness.

“In 1987, when it launched its efforts, there were 18,000 homeless people. As of 2018, there were 5,482.

“Hope HTS has supported over 2700 homeless people to access safe accommodation and get their lives ‘back on track’. But there has been a rapid increase in the number of rough sleepers.

“Bournemouth alone has seen a 168 per cent rise in applications for help with homelessness in the past two years, and as a result, demand for safe, dry and secure accommodation has risen.

“Hope wants to continue to grow its reach and reduce homelessness here in Bournemouth. For that reason, we reached out to the Y-Foundation and were delighted when they invited us to visit some of their projects.”

“We were interested in the ways tenants are actively supported to engage with their communities.

“We also learned that all young Finnish people up to the age of 30 are able to rent apartments for 30 per cent below the market value. This is to prevent young people getting into debt, which may eventually lead to them experiencing homelessness.”

BCP Council and its partners activated the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) on November 19 to ensure rough sleepers have access to safe and warm overnight accommodation during plummeting temperatures.

Julie added: “Getting people off the streets remains Hope’s priority.

“Our first meeting with the Y-Project was incredibly fruitful and has equipped us with much insight and information to share, both within Hope and with our many working partners here in Dorset.

“The visit has also resulted in some exciting ideas for future collaborations between Hope HTS and the Y-Foundation - the first of which we hope to announce in early 2025.”