Kotka couple find home after seven months without shelter

Sari Lyly and Juuso Mainila spent seven months without a home in Kotka before finding an apartment, Yle reports. The emergency shelter for homeless people in the city closed at the end of August, while negotiations over its continuation remain unresolved.

Lyly, 34, and Mainila, 33, became homeless last winter after rent arrears, unpaid bills and other financial problems accumulated.

For most of the seven months, they stayed with friends. When they had enough money, they sometimes paid for a hotel room.

“We simply had to find a warm place to sleep, even if it cost money,” Mainila said.

They spent two nights outdoors.

“It was terrible. Although it was summer and the days were warm, the nights were very cold. We could only walk back and forth, and we did not sleep at all,” Lyly said.

Emergency shelter opened in February

The number of homeless people in Kotka more than doubled last year, reaching as many as 80. The increase was greater than in any other Finnish city.

Evictions have increased because of cuts to housing benefits and rising housing costs. People with serious substance abuse problems have found it particularly difficult to secure housing.

In February, the Wellbeing Services County of Kymenlaakso began providing free emergency accommodation in Kotka. Organised by A-klinikka, the shelter offered a temporary place to sleep for up to four homeless people at a time, so they would not have to spend nights outdoors or in stairwells.

The first trial period lasted until May. The wellbeing services county then concluded that there was a need for emergency accommodation and extended the agreement through the summer. The latest agreement ended on August 31, when the night shelter closed its doors at least temporarily.

The shelter recorded 169 overnight stays from February to April, 100 in May, 48 in June, 12 in July and 63 in August, according to the Wellbeing Services County of Kymenlaakso.

“A really big relief”

Lyly and Mainila stayed at the emergency shelter for two weeks. They were given a warm bed and breakfast.

“It was a really big relief,” they said.

Lyly said the most important things were that the accommodation was safe and warm.

“It was exactly what you hoped for. We did not have to sleep outdoors or on a hard floor at a friend’s place, and there was always a supervisor there to keep us safe.”

Those staying at the shelter had to leave at 7 a.m. after breakfast. They could return between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.

“The days were long. It was exhausting having to spend 12 hours outside,” Mainila said.

Talks on continuation remain unfinished

The Wellbeing Services County of Kymenlaakso is negotiating whether the emergency shelter should continue, but the talks are still unfinished.

Tarja Mäntynen, director of the adult social services results area, said the wellbeing services county was assessing possible solutions based on observations and experiences from the trial.

“Temporary accommodation is being arranged for everyone who needs it,” she said, adding that clients would not be left without support.

Mäntynen also said that people in difficult situations can use day centre services, detoxification and withdrawal treatment, substance abuse treatment and other housing services.

New apartment changed their lives

Lyly and Mainila found their own apartment in mid-August, after spending two weeks at the emergency shelter.

The apartment was arranged through Y-Säätiö. Its homes are intended, among others, for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, those recovering from mental health or substance abuse problems, people with intellectual disabilities, prisoners preparing for release and people with excessive debt.

Lyly said having a home had brought a major change to their lives.

“After being homeless for seven months, I started to feel that hope was lost and that I might not even get an apartment anymore. Now that I have one, I want to hold on to it tooth and nail.”