On this page

1. Housing

2. Social services

3. Health care

4. Financial services

5. Quality assurance

In the Finnish context, raising the employment rate, lowering the number of early school leavers, reducing the number of people living at risk, and promoting multiculturalism, sustainable development, and gender equality are policies promoting social inclusion. In practice, this can mean supporting early teens, youth, students, and organisations to create equal opportunities for participation in activities and community life, as well as gender mainstreaming as part of legislation drafting (see also YouthWiki/Finland 4.4 Inclusive Programmes for Young People). 

Housing

As mentioned in A strong and committed Finland: Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's Government (Vahva ja välittävä Suomi: Pääministeri Petteri Orpon hallituksen ohjelma, in Finnish), published on 20 June 2023, as well as Strengthening young people's wellbeing through multidisciplinary measures: National youth work and youth policy programme 2024–2027 (Vahvistetaan nuorten hyvinvointia monialaisin toimenpitein: Valtakunnallinen nuorisotyön ja -politiikan ohjelma (VANUPO), in Finnish), published in 2024, youth homelessness will be reduced through the Programme to eradicate long-term homelessness (2024–2026) (Ohjelma pitkäaikaisasunnottomuuden poistamiseksi vuoteen 2027 mennessä, in Finnish), in which young people are recognised as a target group. 

The rationale for the programme is to address housing-related challenges in Finland. For more information, see YouthWiki/Finland 4.1 Main challenges to social inclusion. 

As mentioned on the Ministry of the Environment’s website entitled Housing, ‘a well-functioning housing sector promotes the opportunities of all people to lead a good life and have a home that meets their needs in varying life situations. The aim of the ministry is to ensure an adequate supply of different types of housing options on the housing market, steer the construction industry and housing into a direction that is environmentally sustainable, and enhance the opportunities of residents to influence their housing conditions.’ In the Government Programme (2024–2027), the key objective of the 
Government’s housing policy is to promote the functioning of the housing market.  

The Finnish Youth Housing Association NAL focuses on the development of youth housing and living conditions. NAL provides services that support successful independent living and produces and distributes information concerning youth housing. Local youth housing associations arrange group and tenant activities. One example of these group activity forms in youth housing is the young mothers’ peer support groups. NAL monitors housing policy and focuses on issues that are relevant to young people (e.g., the production of low-rent apartments, housing costs, subsidies targeted for young people). The services are mainly organised by NAL local area associations in cooperation with the public sector, local organisations, and other operators. Supported housing services are mainly purchased by cities and municipal consortia. NAL offers versatile housing services for different needs, from housing guidance to supported housing. Since 2016, NAL has cooperated with One-Stop Guidance Centres to offer housing guidance. In addition, NAL provides the ABCs of Housing for Young People. The goal is to offer useful information and make the transition to independent living easier. 
 

Social services

The wellbeing services counties (see Glossary) have been responsible for organising healthcare and social services since 2023. In the Finnish context, social services respond to support needs listed on the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health website Social services. It should be noted that, in the context of social welfare, the definition of young people is 18–24-year-olds (Section 3 of the Social Welfare Act (1301/2014) (Sosiaalihuoltolaki, in Finnish)). 

Section 9 of the Social Welfare Act (1301/2014) (Sosiaalihuoltolaki, in Finnish) specifies that wellbeing services counties and municipalities must monitor and promote children’s and young people’s wellbeing, as well as address social issues. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare also specifies on its website social services for children, young people and families that student social services and guidance fall under the responsibility of the wellbeing services counties. How the objectives and measures are implemented at the regional level may vary between wellbeing services counties. Most financial benefits in Finland are distributed by the Social Insurance Institution Kela, but local social services can also provide temporary social assistance and help with housing.  

Social support for low literacy is not directly addressed through a specific social service. 
However, the Finnish National Agency for Education’s National Literacy Strategy 2030 (Kansallinen lukutaitostrategia 2030, in Finnish) has been created to address this issue in particular. Also, in connection with the following sub-section on health, the strategy mentions that ‘[t]he training of social welfare and health care personnel will be developed so that the multiliteracy and media literacy skills of older people will strengthen’ (see page 29).  
 

Health care

The Finnish Student Health Service provides basic health care and dental services for students in higher education. These services are based on the Act on Student Healthcare for Higher Education Students (695/2019) (Laki korkeakouluopiskelijoiden opiskeluterveydenhuollosta, in Finnish).  

NGOs are also allowed to offer health services to young people, but according to legislation, regional authorities are primarily responsible for arranging such services. The Family Federation of Finland is a significant third-sector actor working in the social and health sector. The organisation provides services, acts as an advocate, and carries out research. The Family Federation of Finland’s website has a section specifically for young people. The goal is to offer guidance and information about sexual health for people under the age of 20. A young person can also book an appointment online. 

Altogether, there are approximately ten different support and crisis services offered by phone targeted at young people, approximately thirty online services (in the form of chats or databases, for example), and at least four organisations offering face-to-face support, such as peer support groups and one-on-one appointments at regional crisis centres. The crisis centre network is coordinated by the national non-governmental organisation MIELI Mental  Health Finland. In addition, there are shelters provided by the Federation of Mother and 
Child Homes and Shelters, as well as youth shelters provided by the Finnish Red Cross. 

The 2024 steering document Strengthening young people's wellbeing through multidisciplinary measures: National youth work and youth policy programme 2024–2027 (Vahvistetaan nuorten hyvinvointia monialaisin toimenpitein: Valtakunnallinen nuorisotyön ja -politiikan ohjelma (VANUPO), in Finnish), also raises the issue of young people’s mental health, and long-term policymaking initiatives include the National Mental Health Strategy and Programme for Suicide Prevention 2020–2030 (Kansallinen mielenterveysstrategia ja itsemurhien ehkäisyohjelma vuosille 2020–2030, in Finnish). Concrete measures include the therapy guarantee for children and young people's mental health (in Finnish), which came into force on 1 May 2025 (see YouthWiki/Finland 7.5 Mental health). 

In the context of health care, students at all levels of education can be recognised as one target group. In addition, ensuring accessibility to services and early recognition of mental health needs in young people are among the main objectives of the National Youth Work and Youth Policy Programme (2024–2027). As a reply to mental health concerns, the Programme commits to ensuring that:  

• ‘Young people have access to timely and high-quality mental health services.’
•  ‘Meaningful leisure activities strengthen the mental health of young people.’ 
   

Financial services

Eligibility for debt adjustment 

Here, it is important to note that debt adjustment is not a service per se, but a means of restructuring one’s debts. However, age is included as a compelling reason that the court may take into consideration when evaluating an individual’s eligibility for debt adjustment (Act on the Adjustment of the Debts of a Private Individual (57/1993) (Laki yksityishenkilön velkajärjestelystä, in Finnish)). More information can be found on the National Legal Services Authority’s webpage, Who is eligible for debt adjustment.   

Financial Counselling 

Financial Counselling is offered in Financial Advice Clinics in 35 locations nationwide. Financial advice clinics are a low-threshold service providing an opportunity to discuss everyday financial questions without booking an appointment. Individuals can reflect on their situation, receive advice, and go through different options with experts in private consultations or by taking part in group counselling courses called "Fyrkkaa ja fiilistä" ("Money and Feelings” in English), co-led by a person with experiential expertise and offering group support. Financial Counselling offers up-to-date information – the aim is to challenge common myths related to financial matters. 
 

Quality assurance

In Finland, all public services are subject to systematic quality assurance. At the local level, municipalities can allocate resources as they see fit, but they should evaluate the provided services with young people on a regular basis. According to the Youth Act (1285/2016) (Nuorisolaki, in Finnish), youth services are, in practice, implemented through cross-sectoral cooperation. The local authority has a coordinating body with representation from the local educational, social and health care, and youth administrations and when possible, also from the labour and police administrations, for the planning, implementation, and assessment of all youth services.  

The Finnish Supervisory Agency is the central authority that oversees the legality and implementation of social services at the national level. Local-level authorities must practise self-monitoring. Due to regional variation, it is not possible to give a comprehensive overview of monitoring practices. 

In the context of education, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) implements the School Health Promotion study every other year. The study monitors the health and wellbeing of young people aged 14–20 in Finland. It is carried out in educational institutions as an anonymous, independently completed online survey, which is filled out by pupils and students in classes or groups during the school day. The results are utilised in the planning and evaluation of health education. It can be noted that the study utilises the Experiences of Social Inclusion Scale (ESIS), which was developed by THL.

Additionally, THL promotes health, wellbeing, and inclusion in multicultural Finland. Additional ways to examine and monitor the social inclusion of young people at the national level include the indicators provided by the State Youth Council. These indicators evaluate the wellbeing and living conditions of young people. Some of the indicators are based on the Youth Barometer, and some are based on the eight areas of the EU Youth Strategy.  

The Youth Barometer is published in cooperation between the Finnish Youth Research Society and the State Youth Council. The Youth Barometer studies young people’s values, attitudes, and experiences. The theme varies each year: for example, in 2020 the theme of the Youth Barometer was ‘public services.’ However, some questions are repeated annually, which makes it possible to track changes in attitudes. The Youth Barometer’s Time Series has been compiled in the form of indicators. The categories are work and employment, society and democracy, relationships, satisfaction, social exclusion, uncertainty, and security. For example, young people are asked annually whether they worry about their income, health, or future, finding a job, or living in an unsafe environment, and whether they are subjected to physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence, or experience loneliness. Regarding satisfaction, they are asked how satisfied they are with their financial situation, health, relationships, spare time, and life as a whole. The results of the Youth Barometer support the preparation of national-level programmes, such as the Strengthening young people's wellbeing through multidisciplinary measures: National youth work and youth policy programme 2024–2027 (Vahvistetaan nuorten hyvinvointia monialaisin toimenpitein: Valtakunnallinen nuorisotyön ja -politiikan ohjelma (VANUPO), in Finnish). 

Government reports are also a mechanism that recognises young people as a specific target group when evaluating social services and produces recommendations for future actions. A recent example is the 2026 report Boys and men matter: Report on the vulnerabilities of boys and young men behind gender equality challenges (Pojat ja nuoret miehet vakavasti ottaen - Selvitys poikien ja nuorten miesten haavoittuvuuksista tasa-arvohaasteiden taustalla, in Finnish), written by Harry Lunabba and published by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The report suggests that there is a need for a gender-sensitive approach when planning social (as well as education and health) services for young people.