Home is more than four walls – and we’re here for you

Students’ Mental Health Week runs from 9 to 15 March, this year under the theme of faith in the future. At PSOAS, we believe that a safe home and a caring community are two of the most important building blocks for being able to trust in tomorrow.

We’re living in uncertain times, and that feeling is familiar to many students. Worries about studies, government budget cuts, concerns about livelihood, the general employment situation, loneliness – so many things can make everyday life feel heavy. That’s why this year’s theme, faith in the future, feels close to our hearts.

Faith in the future means trust in your own future and believing that you have good opportunities to succeed in life – from the perspective of education, work, finances, and wellbeing. It means finding support and community that help you keep going. PSOAS wants to be part of creating this faith by offering support and services for different life situations.

Your living situation affects you more than you might think

Home is where you come back to. It means rest, peace, and safety. But sometimes home comes with things that weigh you down – rent difficulties, issues with neighbours, uncertainty about housing matters, or simply the feeling of being stuck without knowing who to turn to.

These things can feel minor, but their impact on your wellbeing and studies can be significant. A comfortable living environment is part of the bigger picture – when home doesn’t feel secure or comfortable, it’s harder to feel hopeful about the future either.

A comfortable living environment is built from many small things: the condition and cleanliness of your home, peace and quiet, good relationships with neighbours, and the feeling that home is a place where you can breathe.

Sometimes the things that affect comfort require help – maybe cleaning feels overwhelming, a neighbour’s noise is disturbing, or things aren’t working out with your housemate. In these situations, too, PSOAS’s housing advisory is here to help find solutions that make everyday life easier and your home more comfortable.

Community is closer than you think – often just behind the door

Loneliness is one of those things that quietly erodes faith in the future. So it’s worth remembering that PSOAS homes aren’t just apartments – they’re part of a community.

Many PSOAS buildings have club rooms, gyms, and shared spaces freely available for residents. These are places to step outside your own room, bump into a neighbour, or discover like-minded company more easily than you might expect.

PSOAS tenant committees also organise events in their own areas – bringing neighbours together in small and larger ways. If you don’t yet know whether your building has a resident committee or shared spaces, it’s worth finding out. Community is often closer than you’d think.

PSOAS Housing Advisor is here for you

PSOAS has offered housing guidance service for nearly 10 years. During that time, we’ve addressed various housing challenges: prevented rent debts from going to collection and avoided eviction situations by offering residents flexible payment plans, worked together with residents to identify what help is needed and sought it together, provided guidance on cleaning and maintaining homes, and resolved disputes between housemates.

PSOAS’s housing guidance is here to help with any housing-related challenges – with a low threshold. The service is free, confidential, and meant for you.

We can help with things like:

• Difficulties with rent payments and managing your finances
• Challenges in maintaining your home
• Issues with housemates or neighbours
• Disturbances in your home or building
• Eviction situations
• Worries related to housing or the progress of your studies

We’ll assess your situation together, explore options, and refer you to other services when needed. We can also set up flexible payment plans if money is tight.

You’re not alone – and you don’t have to be

One thing we’ve learned: the sooner we address a situation, the easier it is to resolve. Don’t stay alone with your worries – reach out, even if the issue feels small or you’re not sure it’s something we deal with.

It is. And we’re here.

Get in touch – here’s how to reach us

If you’re experiencing any housing-related concerns or just need someone to talk to about your living situation, please reach out to our Housing Advisor.

Housing guidance is a free service for all PSOAS residents. You can reach us by phone, WhatsApp, or email.

📞 +358 44 757 3105

📧 asumisneuvonta@psoas.fi

Your peace of mind matters to us – and we want to do everything we can to make sure your housing situation works, and that you have space to believe in tomorrow.