Social sustainability

Since Hoas was founded, our goal has been to improve the housing situation of students in the Helsinki metropolitan area by offering affordable accommodation during their studies. 

Many of our tenants are living on their own for the first time, which is why we provide support and guidance to help them succeed in independent living. In addition to customer service, our trained and professional housing advice team supports residents. The team brings expertise from social services, property maintenance, and demanding customer service work. 

Hoas trains both its own staff and partners to engage with empathy and to identify concerning living situations early, so support can be offered as soon as possible. 

We promote social responsibility through practices that support: 

Every tenant has the right to be themselves without fear of discrimination or mistreatment. Our tenant communities must welcome everyone regardless of gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, values, or health status. 

Respecting privacy and personal boundaries is key — everyone is treated equally, and all conversations are expected to remain respectful. We have created the Safely together principles, which aim to ensure a safe and pleasant living environment for all. 

We also work with universities to provide furnished apartments and housing services to international exchange students. This helps ease their arrival in Finland and contributes to cultural diversity in the capital region. 

We build new properties close to educational institutions and good public transport connections to ensure convenient access to studies, services, and mobility. We maintain and renovate our properties systematically, and enhance the comfort of our new buildings with well-designed common areas. 

Our aim is to provide a safe home for all tenants. We address problems quickly and work closely with Hoas’s safety officer. Disruptions are handled in cooperation with our security partner, Securitas. We also collaborate with the local police when needed. All properties have up-to-date emergency plans, fire safety equipment, and procedures, which we continuously improve. 

We regularly survey our tenants and conduct studies to better respond to their needs and develop the housing solutions they value most. 

We treat all employees fairly and equally, respecting their dignity, privacy, and rights. We do not tolerate any form of discrimination, threats, harassment, or abuse in the workplace. 

We offer a fair and safe working environment: modern tools, comprehensive occupational health care, career development opportunities, and an inclusive culture where every voice is heard. This is supported by the Great Place To Work survey, where 84 % of employees consider Hoas a genuinely good place to work. Our workplace culture is praised for its meaningful work, low hierarchy, positive and relaxed atmosphere, and strong commitment to employee development. 

Since autumn 2024, we have implemented the Aware worksite concept across all Hoas construction sites. The concept emphasizes employee well-being and equality. It includes agreements on safe working conditions, reasonable workloads, preventing harassment, listening to all voices, management presence, cleanliness, and clear communication. 

Multilingual surveys are used to monitor worksite atmosphere and guide joint development efforts with contractors and workers. 

The Whistleblow reporting channel allows individuals to report serious concerns confidentially or anonymously, enhancing transparency and accountability. 

Our housing advisors also serve as a source of emotional support for tenants. Their deep understanding of support networks and collaboration with youth social services help ensure student well-being and success in housing and everyday life.