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last year’s event in Finland 4500 names were collected to the petition
that demands an actual scheme of doing away with homelessness instead
of a scheme that merely reduces it. Symbols of the event, bonfires,
were burnt at night in 16 cities in Finland and in 6 European countries.
The
organizers of the event agreed in their national meeting in Helsinki on
the 15th of April on the following principle for their activity:
The Night of the Homeless Citizens’ Movement stresses everyone’s basic right to permanent residence- a home of one’s own.
The values shared by the organizers are as follows:
1) We believe that homelessness is a national disgrace.
2)
The reasons for homelessness are complex and it is sometimes difficult
to differentiate the cause from the consequence. Because of this,
people under the threat of alienation often become actively excluded.
3)
We demand compliance with the Finnish Constitution according to which
every person should be guaranteed the right to domicile.
4) Our compassion and active support is with the most unprivileged.
5) We stress cooperation beyond political or religious boundaries.
We believe that the most important goals in the near future are:
1)
to reach zero tolerance in most municipalities in dealing with
homelessness so that it will not be tolerated under any circumstances
2) to monitor the carrying out of The Scheme of Reducing Homelessness in 2002-2003, and
3) to demand the state to draw up and execute a scheme to abolish homelessness.
Last year the main coordinator of the event was Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry. This year approximately 100 parties are involved.
For further information, please contact
Antti Honkonen , Suomen Elämäntapaliitto ry, Hämeentie8 A, 00530 HELSINKI
Elämäntapaliitto ry Haapaniemenkatu 14, 2.krs 00530 Helsinki
email: antti.honkonen at elamantapaliitto.fi
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