Helsinki is to offer cheap housing to young people—with a catch. Under-25s will be able to rend a 23sqm apartment in an old people’s home, so long as they commit to spending several hours a week with the other, elderly residents.
The cheap flats are self-contained units with a kitchen, bathroom and balcony, and the rent is just 250 euros per month—cheap by the standards of the Finnish capital. They’re located in the Laajasalo district, east of the city centre and close to the sea.
The offer is part of the “Home that fits” project, which aims to eliminate youth homelessness in the Finnish capital by 2018. Currently around 1,000 people in the capital are classified as homeless.
Miki Mielonen, who is responsible for the project at Helsinki Youth department, said that the flats could also be taken up by people with less-than-fluent Finnish skills looking for conversation practice.
"We don't have any preconceptions, this is open to everyone," Mielonen told Yle News.
Applications should be submitted by 8 December, and the new tenants will move to their new flats in January. More details can be found here and applications in English will be accepted.