Maria Kekkonen navigates new living challenges in Mäntylä, Finland amid government cuts

A warm autumn sun bathes a neighborhood in Oulu, Finland, where people move leisurely on an ordinary morning. Among low-rise apartment buildings surrounded by trees lives Maria Kekkonen, who spoke with Yle six months ago while preparing to move to a smaller residence due to government cuts that made her previous living situation unaffordable.

Maria emphasizes that her joblessness is not by choice and highlights the complexities of individual circumstances. She sits on her familiar mustard-yellow couch, noting that a lot has changed in those months. The most significant shift is her new home in Mäntylä, a move prompted by safety concerns after only a few months in her last place.

Kekkonen’s new apartment is a 60-square-meter two-bedroom unit. Her two eldest children share a bedroom while her youngest has his own space in a walk-in closet, with Maria sleeping on a mattress in the living room. Despite her constrained circumstances, she expresses gratitude for the cheaper living arrangement, stating, “I was lucky to find this, as turnover in these buildings is low.”

Her three children now alternate weeks with her, and she has five adult cats who enjoy cuddling and sunbathing on the balcony. While her daily life is more stable than before, Kekkonen remains unemployed, relying on child support and various allowances. She applies for jobs monthly but often hears either polite rejections or remains unanswered.

Complications stemming from government austerity measures and rising VAT have further hindered her financial situation. A desire for more social interaction persists, along with hopes of returning to school for studies in cultural research or the arts. For now, her focus is on family life and learning Sámi languages. Despite hardships, Kekkonen harbors aspirations for the future, including participating in the upcoming municipal elections as a candidate for the Left Alliance.