Frontline housing social work as practices of acknowledgement in urban displacement in Finland

Abstract

Since 2008, housing social work in Finland has been strategically, theoretically and practically built according to the Housing First principle. The focus of this article is on frontline housing social work (FHSW), in which work is done in close contact with people. The analysis was conducted through the theoretical lens of acknowledgement. The data were obtained from 14 interviews conducted with professionals who worked multiagently with vulnerable people at risk of losing their homes in a group displacement. The displacement affected approximately 200 residents, around 90 of whom needed considerable help in finding new homes and securing their future housing pathways. This article focuses on the FHSW done among these people. Qualitative thematic analysis constructed three levels of acknowledgement: (1) practices of reaching and finding, (2) practices of reconciliation of becoming invisible and (3) practices of housing and homing. The results provide insights into the ethical and practical pressures faced by people performing this work. I conclude that FHSW is important in group displacement, and its role should be considered part of urban development.