Finnish government plans to cut aid to social and health service organizations, sparking concerns over future humanitarian work
The Finnish government led by Petteri Orpo has decided to cut state aid to social and health service organizations by 130 million euros over the next three years. Mona Särkelä, the evaluation manager of the Social and Health Organizations Support Center (Stea), suggests that the planned change in the level of aid is significant and will impact future humanitarian work. Stea has received many concerned inquiries regarding these cuts.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social and health service organizations in Finland play a crucial role in building people’s everyday well-being. They are involved in various stages of life, providing lighter support and opportunities for voluntary activities.
Marko Mustiala, who has worked for ten years at the Kanta-Häme memory association, highlights the importance of peer support. In his view, patient organizations are a cushion that eases the fall of a person jumping out of an apartment building window. After receiving a diagnosis from healthcare services, people often need information and peer support. Mustiala believes that the consequences of the cuts are difficult to predict and will only become visible with a five to six-year delay.
Having resigned from his position at the memory association, Mustiala plans to work temporarily in child protection. He also has expertise in the security sector. Mustiala is convinced that investing in NGO work is economically sensible. He explains that peer support can prevent depression and burnout and in the case of dementia patients, it can extend their stay at home by up to two years before they need to be moved to an institution, saving money.
Stea distributed 1,700 grants to almost 800 NGOs this year. The first cuts will mostly affect new grants, with annual reductions potentially reaching 50 million euros. Särkelä acknowledges that the effects will certainly extend to every aspect of life in NGO work over the coming years. The focus of new grants in 2025 will be on mental health support and the prevention of substance abuse, as well as support for parenting, especially in relation to children and young people’s developmental or social challenges. Additionally, a grant program targeting activities for the elderly and informal caregivers is set to start in 2025.