We safeguard the well-being of children, young people and families

Sophie Mannerheim’s shelter in Helsinki is part of the national network of shelters that is intended for people who are being subjected to domestic violence or to threat of it. The shelter will offer you protection and guidance to end domestic violence. You will be provided with crisis support as well as help and information on how to organise practical matters. All our services are free of charge.

Sophie Mannerheim’s shelter has seven rooms. You can arrive at the front entrance of the shelter by car. The parking is just along the street. All shelter facilities are on a single level and accessible with a walker or a small wheelchair and one bathroom is fully accessible. The shelter will provide you with an interpreter if necessary.

SafetyNet Helsinki is a mobile drop-in service that operates in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and provides help when there is violence or threat of it in a family or other close relationship. The crisis workers of SafetyNet Helsinki may come to the person in need of help, or a meeting can be arranged either in our facilities or online. The goal of our work is to end the violence and help you come to terms with the experience.

Help is available free of charge to all parties involved in domestic violence. We support adults, children, families and couples alike. Support is available for processing your experience of domestic violence, ensuring mental coping and organising practical matters. We also organise professionally led peer support groups and events to people who have experienced domestic violence.

Our services are available in Finnish and English, and an interpreting service may be used if necessary.

Family separation is a crisis affecting the whole family, and coping with it requires resources. Parents should take into account their child’s best interest in all their decisions regarding the separation. MLL Helsinki’s 5-part video animation series discusses family separation from a child’s perspective based on research: it focuses on contractual matters, effects of family separation on children, supporting children through family separation and where to turn for help.

The videos are available in Finnish, Swedish, English, Arabic, Somali and Russian.

Further information is also available in the parenting plan drawn to help parents going through a separation. The plan helps parents to jointly think about their child’s daily life, practical needs and well-being during the separation process.

The association’s subsidiary MLL Helsingin Sosiaalipalvelut Ltd. provides outsourced child welfare services to wellbeing services counties.

Youth home Marjis and other child welfare housing and support services in Helsinki provide a peaceful growth environment and safe adults for young people.