Perceptions of social workers on housing and housing-related vulnerability

Authors

• Minna Kivipelto Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
• Katja Ilmarinen Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
• Pekka Karjalainen Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare

DOI: https://doi.org/10.33357/ys.121860

Keywords:

vulnerability, housing, segregation, social workers, adult social work

Abstract

This article examines social workers' views on housing-related vulnerability among their clients, using James Coleman's (1990) theory to analyze the interplay between individual and macro-social phenomena. The study shows that political and regional decisions regarding social and health care services, as well as Kela's housing cost norms, create obstacles to overcoming housing-related vulnerability. Those who face complex housing-related challenges experience the most significant difficulties. While some social workers attribute housing-related vulnerability to individual factors such as poor health, language barriers, or cognitive disabilities, many acknowledge that societal-level procedures and solutions make it difficult to overcome housing-related vulnerability.