Alcohol, drugs and gambling

You can receive support from different parties for reviewing your financial problems, purchasing a home and housing costs as well as your reflections on working life.

There are online tools for planning your own finances: 

• In the "Arjen talous haltuun" guide tools for a rational approach to daily expenses (in Finnish) - MentalHub.fiOpens in a new window.
• The Takuusäätiö (Guarantee Foundation) Penno application for planning and tracking your spending - Penno.fiOpens in a new window.

If you or your family do not have enough money for necessary daily expenses, you can apply for social assistance from Kela. In addition to social assistance, your wellbeing services county may grant preventive or supplementary social assistance. For applying, you must first have a decision on social assistance from Kela.

If you are indebted and it appears that you cannot cope with the debt repayments, you can obtain counselling for your situation, for example from the Legal Aid Offices' financial and debt counselling services. You can read more about the subject on the If you are unable to pay your debts page. 

If you are an entrepreneur and are concerned about your company's financial situation, read more about the subject on the Company’s financial difficulties and their prevention guide. If your income as an entrepreneur is at risk, see the Securing an entrepreneur’s livelihood pages.

For housing costs, you can apply for housing allowance from Kela. Housing allowance can be paid if the total income of those living in the same residence is low.

General housing allowance - Kela.fiOpens in a new window.

If you have been or are becoming homeless, contact the social welfare services of your wellbeing services county. Submit a notification of move either electronically or using a paper form available at the post office. Note in the notification of move that you do not have a residence from a certain date onwards. When you receive a new residence, re-submit the notification of move.

Notification of change of address - Posti.fiOpens in a new window.

Many wellbeing services counties offer supportive housing and other housing services for people living with or recovering from substance abuse or other problems. You can ask about them from the social welfare services of your wellbeing services county. 

Organisations also offer a wide range of services to homeless people. These include night shelters and day centres. Organisations also maintain supportive housing that can be accessed through social welfare services of the wellbeing services county.

• Housing support and counselling - The Blue Ribbon Foundation (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• No Fixed Abode NGOOpens in a new window.
• Kodittomien tuki ry (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

Take care of your mental and physical work ability. If your employer offers occupational health care services or other support for maintaining work ability, use it.

If your substance abuse or gambling was caused by reasons related to work, it is advisable to deal with them with your supervisor and occupational health care professionals, to avoid ending up in same situation again.

If you are an entrepreneur and you are concerned about your livelihood or a possible illness, go to the Securing an entrepreneur’s livelihood pages.