oslo 2025 Cities ending Homelessness Forum Schedule

Dates: Saturday 23rd - Friday 29th August
Venues: Nobel Peace Centre and two venues in Rådhusplassen

Each day of the Forum featured sessions that explored topics and solutions relevant to homelessness in Norway. Sessions were been organised by a wide range of organisations and curated by our local hosts The Norwegian Salvation Army.

The sessions took place in three venues - the Nobel Peace Center with ‘The Tent’ and the Punkt Oslo pavilion in the tournament arena. Most sessions were conducted in Norwegian with English translation or in English only. The event was free and welcomed people from across sectors and interests - from people who have experienced homelessness to social workers, from policy makers to researchers and social innovators.

One of our all-day sessions was also live-streamed from the Nobel Peace Center. Watch below:

SATURDAY 23RD AUGUST and SUNDAY 24TH August

SATURDAY 23 AUGUST

Time: 16:30–17:15

Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Panellists: Jamil Dost (Chairman of the Oslo Student Sports Association (OSI)), Anita Leirvik North (Deputy Mayor for Culture and Business Development in the Municipality of Oslo) and a Homeless World Cup player.

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session organiser: Punkt Oslo

SUNDAY 24 AUGUST

Time: 14:30–15:15

Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Panelists: Lindis Hurum (Secretary General of Doctors Without Borders), Sunniva Gylver (Bishop of Oslo), Britt Moene Kuven (Associate Professor at VID), a Homeless World Cup player.

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session organiser: Punkt Oslo

Monday 25th August

combating homelessness in Norway

Venue:
The Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo

Time: 08:30 - 15:00
(All times are CEST)

Language: English

In-person: Starts with refreshments at 08:30. Lunch is also included.

Available to join online.

08:30 - 09:00 : Coffee & Networking

    • Anne Lindboe, Mayor of Oslo

    • Wenche Walderhaug Midjord, Head of The Salvation Army Social Services

    • Kristen Krogh, OsloMet Rektor

    • Mel Young, President of Homeless World Cup Foundation

  • An opportunity to hear from those who have found support through sport, helping them find community and the confidence to change their own lives.

    • Moderator: Mel Young (President, Homeless World Cup Foundation)

    • Players from Gatefotball, Norwegian Salvation Army (Norway’s Homeless World Cup Member)

    • Former Canadian Homeless World Cup player, now Homeless World Cup referee

  • Evelyn Kirsten Dyb, OsloMet University.

    As a leading expert on homelessness in Norway and author of "Homelessness. Politics and Practice” Evelyn will provide an understanding of the Norwegian context around this issue.

  • Signe Haukvik Haugen, the National Manager for the Norwegian Homeless World Cup women’s team (the Norwegian Salvation Army), will present one of the solutions tackling homelessness and social isolation in Norway.

    • Evelyn Kirsten Dyb, OsloMet University

    • Signe Haukvik Haugen, Norwegian Salvation Army

    • Players from Gatefotball, Salvation Army (Norway’s Homeless World Cup Member)

  • Professor Emma Tomalin, Leeds University, will present her research into The Salvation Army’s use of this celebrated model for tackling homelessness.

  • Ida Sollien Kjeldal, Department Manager in Family Residency (The Norwegian Salvation Army) will discuss supporting families.

  • This panel will focus on Norwegian solutions to homelessness, particularly focusing on housing, how systems change has been achieved and what more can be done.

    • Moderator: Nikki Gravning, Ashoka

      Panellists:

    • Hilde Zeiner, OsloMet University

    • Emma Tomalin, Leeds University

    • Hermund Urstad, Husbanken

    • Ida Sollien Kjeldal, The Norwegian Salvation Army

14:45 - 15:00 : Closing Remarks

Venue: The Salvation Army, Ensjø (Ensjøtunet Malerhaugveien 10 a)

Time: 09:00 - 15:00

Language: Norwegian

  • Venue: The Salvation Army, Ensjø (Ensjøtunet Malerhaugveien 10 a)

    Language: Norwegian

    This will address current theoretical perspectives and research-based knowledge about the importance of relationships in social work, as well as how we can become more aware of our own role in meeting other people.

    Ingunn Tollisen Ellingsen is a professor of social work at the University of Stavanger and head of the Network for Welfare Research. She has a background as a social worker and has extensive experience in teaching, supervision and research. Her research interests include relationships in welfare services and her research highlights how relational competence and relational understanding are crucial for promoting trust, participation and good user-oriented welfare services.

    She has also contributed to the development of practice-oriented knowledge that promotes ethical and relationship-oriented social work.

    Session organiser: Norwegian Salvation Army’s Fengselsarbeid

Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen

Time: 14:30 - 15:15

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

    Language: Norwegian (English translation)

    Moderator: Nina Langeland (Director of Communications at SiO)

    Panel participants: Anna-Rita Andal (CEO, Leieboerforeningen), Speech Maria Krohn Engvik (Healthista), Marianne Hektoen (Special Consultant II, Housing Social Innovation Program), Elisabeth Gjedrem Johansen (Leader, Student Association of Oslo and Akershus) and a Homeless World Cup player.

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session organiser: Punkt Oslo

Venue: ‘The Tent’

Time: 15:30 - 16:30

Language: English (Translation into Norwegian)

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’

    Language: English (Translation into Norwegian)

    Is sports the future of the Salvation Army or a trendy dead end?
    How can sports be used to meet the homeless, the disabled, children and youth in the local community and in our churches?

    Meet and hear from rescue officers from several countries about how they use sports in everyday life.

    Moderator : Peter Eide, who has previously worked with children's football through the Salvation Army in Oslo and at the Salvation Army's children and youth (FAbU).

    Panellists:

    • Elena de Boer (Netherlands, broad experience from Eastern Europe)

    • Bill Dolling (working with people with disabilities in Australia)

    • David Cole (working with homelessness in Germany)

    • Michael Lam (corps work in Hong Kong)

    • Norwegian footballer

    Music by
    Kirill Burunov (Salvation Army Officer from Finland)

    Session organiser: Salvation Army

Tuesday 26th August

Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: Norwegian

    People who have had substance abuse problems are often outside the workforce. At the same time, having a job, meaningful activities and a drug-free network are crucial to being able to stay drug-free after treatment. A stable job and income provide a fertile ground for coping, belonging and recovery. A safe network of people who do not use drugs is good medicine against loneliness and social exclusion. Why is it so difficult to get in place? This event will focus on how we can get more people with previous or ongoing drug addiction into work, ensure that they have good networks and engaging activities that make the road back to addiction a little longer. We will hear experiences from companies that choose to hire people with gaps in their CVs or who are actively addicted, what user organizations see as the biggest obstacles to active participation in work or leisure activities, and not least we will hear from politicians how they think we can ensure that people who struggle with substance abuse have the best possible chance of success.

    • Jorunn Mathiesen (CEO of the Salvation Army, Jobben)

    • Henrik Larsen (Association for Comprehensive Drug Policy).

    • Hans P Salomonsen, (CEO of Medarbeiderne)

    Panel discussion with:

    • Mudassar Kapur (Høyre)

    • Andreas Sjalg Unneland (SV)

    • Agnes Viljugrein (AP)

    Moderator: Inger Lise Hansen, General Secretary of Actis

    Session Organiser: Actis

  • Venue: The Tent
    Language: Norwegian

    The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children have the right to a safe and good home. This is not the case for all children in Norway. The housing market is becoming more and more demanding, and some people are falling out of the housing market time and time again. Can we as a society accept this? What can we do to ensure that all children get the necessary stability in their upbringing that a safe home represents?

    Moderator: Andrew Hannevik, Assistant Communications Manager, The Salvation Army.

    Ida Sollien Kjeldal, department manager in Family Residency, The Salvation Army

    Children's Ombudsman, Mina Gerhardsen

    Bjørnar Moxnes, Member of Parliament from the Red Party.

    Janne Amble from Norway Behind the Facade.

    Organizer:
    Salvation Army Family Residency

Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

    Language: Norwegian (English translation)

    Participants: Mai Phan (founder and CEO of Variment), Øystein Eriksen Søreide (CEO of Abelia), Kathrine Haugland Martinsen (LO Secretary, FO), a Homeless World Cup player

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session organiser: Punkt Oslo

Wednesday 27th August

Venue: ‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: Norwegian

    One in six Oslo residents experience loneliness, according to a new public health survey (FHI May 2025). Loneliness and social isolation are major public health challenges. Loneliness is associated with negative consequences for our physical and mental health, it leads to chronic stress, anxiety and depression, an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and it increases the risk of premature death by 30%. The National Strategy for Preventing Loneliness (2019-2023) aimed, among other things, to highlight loneliness as a public health challenge and establish more social meeting places. But is this enough or can we do something else? And is there a need for more targeted efforts to reduce loneliness within substance abuse care and mental health care? The Salvation Army's discussion offer Between Us – Addiction and Mental Health invites you to a panel discussion on the topic of loneliness.

    Moderator:
    Elin Herikstad, Assistant Social Director at the Salvation Army.

    Participants:

    • Hilde Østby, author of the book “Map of Loneliness”

    • Magne Ådna, Useful work, Norwegian Welfare Administration

    • Susanne Vetter, Between us - addiction and mental health

    • Laurence Fremstad, experienced consultant

    • Julianne Ofstad (FrP)

    • Julianne Ferskaug (L)

    • Agnes Nærland Viljugrein (AP)


    Session Organiser: The Salvation Army, Conversation Program “Between Us”

  • Venue: The Tent
    Language: English

    Hope for ourselves, for others and for society can make all the difference.

    This seminar explores hope in theory and as a practice in lived life. We will hear the voices of HWC players from around the world and listen to the reflections of athletes, social workers and researchers. Participants will also have the opportunity to take a “hope test”.

    The seminar is inspired by the “Path of Hope” program, which was established by the Salvation Army in 2012 and provides services to low-income families seeking to break out of poverty. By creating a path of hope to help families overcome challenges such as unemployment, unstable housing and lack of education, families are guided towards increased stability and ultimately self-sufficiency.

    Panellists:

    • Ståle Søbye (VID)

    • Annette Leis-Peters (VID)

    • Oddgeir Synnes (VID)

    • Kristin Stordal (Salvation Army's section for Welfare and Development)

    • Yngvild Østvold Mejland (National Coordinator of 'With Hope in the Bag, The Salvation Army, Welfare and Development Section)

    • George Halkias (Sport for Development Leader, National Street Soccer Coach/Co-Founder Big Issue Australia Street Soccer)

    • Lisa Wrightsman (Managing Director at Street Soccer USA)

    Session Organisers: VID University College and The Salvation Army

Venue:
The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo.

Language: See session descriptions

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Center
    Language: Norwegian

    Nav Oslo presents its Societal Analysis that addresses the most important societal trends up to 2035 and the consequences they may have for Nav Oslo and for the population of Oslo in the future.

    At the seminar, the Salvation Army will present two of its projects that work to get people back into work and that use a holistic approach to ensure sustainable solutions for the individual.

    Greater attention to the challenges we face will contribute to more accurate strategies and plans for the coming years, and facilitate the possibility for actors like the Salvation Army to contribute with relevant job-oriented projects and innovation.

    Moderator: Petra K. Brooke, Section Leader, The Norwegian Salvation Army

    Participants:

    • NAV Oslo,

    • The Norwegian Salvation Army's Section for Growth

    • FRETEX at the program “Pathway of Hope”

    Session Organisers: NAV Oslo, The Norwegian Salvation Army “Pathway of Hope”, Department for Youth and Fretex

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
    Language: Norwegian

    Presentations by:
    Borghild Løyland (Professor, Quality of Life Research Group, OsloMet)

    Jostein Liebech (Coach and former player on the Norwegian men's national street football team)

    Arne Knoph (CEO of the Football Foundation)

    Panel Discussion: What is quality of life?

    Moderator: Olav Svarstad Haugland (Comedian, Improvisation Artist and Chelsea fan)

    Panellists:

    Sølvi Helseth (Researcher, Oslo Met)

    Agnes Nærland Viljugrein (Labour Party politician and football enthusiast)

    Jostein Liebech (Coach of the men's national street football team)

    Carl Thodesen (Pro-Rector, OsloMet)

    Arne Knoph (CEO of the Football Foundation)

    Summary by: Claire Bjerkeli (PhD fellow, OsloMet)

    Session Organiser: OsloMet

Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point,
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

    Language: Norwegian (English translation)

    Moderator: Øystein Evensen (Partner & Managing Director, Comte Bureau)

    Participants: Mads Bruun Høy (Founder and CEO, Æra)

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session Organisers: Punkt Oslo

Thursday 28th August

Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup tournament venue, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: Norwegian

    "Older and sicker"

    How to care for people with substance abuse as they get older?

    People with substance abuse disorders have a life expectancy that is 15 to 20 years shorter than the general population. At the same time, we see a clear aging in this population.

    Multiple somatic diagnoses, mental illness, and substance abuse can be challenging to accommodate in today's health and care services.

    This development challenges the current system and raises important questions about how we should care for the elderly and those with substance abuse disorders.

    Are we able to provide an equal offer without special care? Complex needs require individualized solutions.

    We invite you to a conversation about the future of care and responsibility for a group that too often falls between several chairs.

    Program:

    09.30 Welcome

    09:35 Conversation with guests from Fyrlyset and Grete Ødegård in conversation with Egil and Reidar

    09:50 "Should patients adapt to the system, or should we adapt to the patients' needs?" by Liv-Bente Nilsson, General Manager of Gatehospitalet

    10:00 Panel discussion led by Anette Fredriksen, Department Head at Gatehospitalet and PhD candidate

    Participants:

    • Sandra Bruflot, MP for the Conservative Party and member of the Health and Care Committee.

    • Ellen Rønningen Arnesen, State Secretary to the Minister of Health and Social Care

    • Jan Gunnar Skoftedalen, Head of the main organization of the Drug Abuse Federation

    • Grete Ødegård, ward nurse Field Care Urtegata

    Session Organisers: The Salvation Army’s Street Hospital

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: Norwegian

    Erik Thorstvedt shares experiences from life and his football career – often about team building, motivation and self-management.

    Helge Dahlberg is a street soccer player – and together they talk about soccer and life.

    In his commitment to the Salvation Army, Thomas Solgård Svendsen, together with colleagues, has conducted several studies that examine the effects of the Salvation Army's substance abuse services on the people involved. Here, Thomas will present findings from a study that is about an expedition that the Salvation Army's substance abuse services conducted a few years ago. What does it take for people to develop from active substance abuse and challenging physical and mental health to reaching the top of Kilimanjaro as a team? The findings show how thinking and acting outside the box, expecting something from each other, and working together over time can lead to major positive differences in people's lives.

    Jan Aasmann Størksen will use examples from his everyday life to highlight what makes "more sustainable" something alive - far beyond a slogan. How simple actions can make big differences. It is easy to complicate activities and then be left with everything around, but slip away from the core. For movement, two wheels are basically needed. Good brakes are also not to be condemned...

    Speakers:
    Thomas Solgård Svendsen, Researcher, KORFOR (Regional Competence Center for Drug Research in Helse Vest)

    Jan Aasmann Størksen, leader of the Salvation Army Pedal Power

    Erik Thorstvedt, former Norwegian national team player

    Helge Dahlberg, Street Soccer player during the Homeless World Cup Oslo 2025

Venue:
The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo.

Language: See session descriptions

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
    Language: Norwegian

    Sport is often praised as a bridge into society – but what happens when people with drug challenges encounter organized sport? Does it provide real coping and inclusion, or do they encounter new exclusion and invisible demands?

    Join a conversation about how far sport can actually – and should – extend as a socio-political actor. We invite professionals, former drug addicts, sports and politicians to debate.

    Speakers:

    • Jens Barland (Pro-Rector for Work and Innovation, Kristiania University of Applied Sciences)

    • Hans Erik Næss, (Researcher, Kristiania University of Applied Sciences)

    • Linda Treseng (CEO, Sport Creates Opportunities)

    • Anna Dåsnes (City Council Representative and Leader of Oslo Liberal Party (Venstre))

      Session Organisers: Kristiania University of Applied Sciences

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
    Language: English

    This panel discussion will explore a local and an international initiative that supports women affected by, or at risk of, homelessness and/or gender-based violence (GBV). The speakers, one from Hannas Hus in Bergen and one from VIJANA AMANI PAMOJA (VAP), Kenya will discuss:

    • helping women to understand their rights

    • providing a safe space

    • educating boys and men to prevent GBV

    • supporting women through trauma-informed approaches

    • promoting a sense of agency

    Panellists:

    • Nancy Waweru   
      Project Regional Hub Manager (HWC’s 4-country ‘Football to protect vulnerable women from exploitation’ programme) and Head of Programmes at Vijana Amani Pamoja, Kenya.

    • Irene Angelskår, Gestalt therapist at Hannas Hus, The Salvation Army in Bergen

    Session Organiser: Homeless World Cup Foundation

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
    Language: Norwegian

    The alcohol abuse organization Av-og-til launches the report “Children who were affected. Young people’s voices about adults’ alcohol use during their youth”.

    By combining young people’s own voices with professional perspectives, Av-og-til wants to contribute to increased awareness of how adults’ alcohol use can affect children, and what we can all do.

    Respons analysis has prepared the report.

    Session Organisers: Alkovettorganisasjonen Av-og-til

  • Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
    Language: English

    Sport is a powerful tool, opening up new pathways for those experiencing homelessness, social isolation and substance abuse.

    This panel discussion will explore how sports programmes can help to change lives, the importance of sport in health equity and how we can create greater impact. It will also explore the importance of shifting the cultural mindset around sport - ‘success’ being less about competitive victory and more about recognising the improved community, life skills, mental and physical health and other benefits that sport can provide.

    Moderator: Hector Moyeton, Ashoka Sport for Changemaking

    Panellists:

    • Rune Rasmussen Isegran (National Coordinator, The Salvation Army’s Gatefotball)

    • Rutha (Former Homeless World Cup player for Norway)

    • Jimmy Westerheim (Founder & CEO, The Human Aspect).

    • Kate McCheyne (Head of Communications and Marketing at Sportscotland)

    Session Organisers: Homeless World Cup Foundation and Ashoka Sport for Changemaking

Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point,
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

  • Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point , Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen.

    Language: Norwegian (Translation into English)

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session Organisers: Punkt Oslo

Friday 29th August

Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

Language: See individual sessions

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: Norwegian (with English translation)

    Sociologist and Associate Professor at VID Specialized University, Turid Misje, will, based on his doctoral project on homeless EU migrants in Norway, discuss how these migrants experience and navigate services run by NGOs, which constitute their ‘home’ in Oslo.

    Speaker: Turid Misje

    Session Organiser: VID Specialized University.

  • Venue: ‘The Tent’
    Language: English

    After decades of progress, the world is currently faced with increased conflict and rising poverty, all accelerated by the growing impact of climate and environmental crises. What happened to the Sustainable Development Goals – are we making any progress, and why aren’t we doing more? And faced with seemingly insurmountable issues like Climate Change – how can football make a difference?

    This seminar offers an overview of current global poverty and development trends, as well as insight into how climate threats are perceived in various parts of the world, inviting reflection on how we can be part of the solution.

    In 2022, Norwegian National Team footballer and known climate activist Morten Thorsby founded the organization We Play Green to mobilize the global football family—including professional players, clubs, and fans— to support the transition toward a sustainable world. We Play Green will share their experiences from their journey so far, and join in a conversation about how we can effectively be a part of building a movement to create positive change.

    Participants

    • Espen Thorsby, We Play Green

    • Bo Christoffer Brekke, Head of International Development, The Salvation Army Norway

    • Chaplains from the International Salvation Army Network

    Session Organisers: The Salvation Army Norway, Office for International Development å legge inn målinnsikt rapporten

Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

Language: Norwegian (with English translation)

  • Venue: Punkt Oslo - Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.

    Language: Norwegian (English translation)

    Moderator: Carl Thodesen (Vice President for Social Impact and Innovation at OsloMet and Chair of Punkt Oslo)

    Panellists:

    • Evelyn Dyb (Research Professor, OsloMet)

    • A Homeless World Cup player

    • Mel Young (President, Homeless World Cup Foundation).

    Meeting point with panel discussion – after the panel discussion, we will serve free soup and encourage participants to continue the conversations and create solutions together at the test point, where you can contribute your ideas and innovations. We invite you to join the conversation about how we can solve this together.

    Session Organisers: Punkt Oslo