Over 300,000 homes are without a permanent resident in Finland. Many empty properties are located in boroughs with negative net migration. For example 28,000+ homes were empty in Helsinki at the end of 2014. (8.2% of the housing stock of the city). That’s equivalent to the population of the town of Imatra. Some are second homes of the wealthy. However the number of vacant properties is projected to rise as the elderly move to nursing homes, leaving their relatives in possession. As the elderly pass away many beneficiaries are reluctant to rent out the property. Meanwhile homelessness is a problem with people staying in outdoors staircases, night shelters, hostels or boarding houses for homeless people, social welfare authorities, rehabilitation homes or hospitals. Lack of organisation has led to ex-convicts being released with no housing arranged. See also: http://www.housingfirst.fi/en/housing_first/homelessness_in_finland/finnish_homelessness_and_its_characteristics