Other improvements are supported through State housing loans and interest subsidies. A separate grant is also available for repairs and modernisation of dwellings owned or rented by elderly people. Young families and young people in general have more difficulties on the housing market than other population groups. Special subsidy systems have been created for young people entering the housing market. Student organisations have been active in building student housing, and other organisations also provide housing for different groups of young people.
Students also receive a special housing allowance.
In the present decade, the number of homeless people and families has been halved, and was estimated at less than 10,000 in 1997, although unemployment had increased rapidly at the same time.