More clients in shelters for victims of domestic violence last year than ever before
According to THL’s recent statistics, the number of clients in shelters for victims of domestic violence continued to increase last year, like it has done in the two previous years. In 2024, shelters had more than 5,800 clients, which is eight per cent more than in the previous year.
The number of days spent in shelters increased by three per cent from the previous year and was approximately 105,000. One client spent an average of 18 days in a shelter.
The number of female clients and child clients increased, whereas the number of male clients decreased. Adults accounted for approximately 60 per cent of the clients and children for approximately 40 per cent.
In 2024, 28 per cent of the clients were directed to a shelter through social welfare services. Clients were also directed to shelters by the police (6%) and by healthcare professionals (5%). More than one half of the clients come to a shelter on their own initiative or directed by a family member or a friend.
Number of persons referred to another shelter because of lack of space remained high
Last year, 1,318 people were referred to another shelter because of a lack of space. Most often, this happened in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area. From regions with only one shelter, the largest number of people had to be referred to other regions from Southwest Finland. The shelter in Southwest Finland was full for 160 days.
There were also some regions in which the situation improved during last year. The region of North Savo has one shelter and the number of places in the shelter increased from five family places to ten in spring 2024.
“The situation in North Savo improved significantly when the number of shelter places was increased. In 2023, a total of 141 persons were referred from Kuopio to other shelters in Finland because of a lack of space. Last year, the number was 38. The number of clients at the shelter in Kuopio also increased significantly with the additional spaces,” says Suvi Nipuli, Development Manager for shelter services for victims of domestic violence at THL.
“More shelter places are still needed in those regions where the service available is not sufficient for the number of residents. Kuopio’s example shows how an increasing number of people can get help for their situation when the availability of the service is improved. Not everyone has the opportunity to seek refuge far from where they live,” Nipuli continues.
According to THL’s estimate, there should be at least over 260 family places in shelters in Finland instead of the current 228.
Shelters are free of charge and open around the clock
Figure: Shelter municipalities at the end of 2024. Some municipalities have more than one shelter.
Finland's shelters make up a network of shelters. For example, this network structure means that if a shelter is full, the person is directed to another shelter that has space. Persons experiencing domestic violence or a threat of it can seek refuge in any of the shelters providing the shelter service if the shelter has places to accommodate them.
A shelter is a 24-hour crisis work unit that is free of charge for the client. A person or family experiencing domestic violence, or the threat of domestic violence can go to the unit on their own initiative or under the guidance of an authority or another party, also anonymously if necessary.
More information
Shelters for victims of domestic violence (THL)
More information about shelters for victims of domestic violence (Nollalinja.fi)
Suvi Nipuli
Development Manager
THL
[email protected]
tel. +358 29 524 7205
