[exDM69]

The model used in Finland is anything but "just giving the homeless a shelter". It's accompanied by a lot of social work, together with medical, mental and substance abuse care.

The reason for providing housing (not just a shelter, although those exist too) is that social work and care are ineffective when a person is homeless. When someone spends all their energy on staying warm, clean, safe and fed, they are unable to help themselves to a better life.

Providing housing was found to be more effective than adding the same amount of funding to social and medical programs.

Extensive research has been done with this, I'm sure you can find some in English language too if you find the article too hard to believe.