oslo 2025 Cities ending Homelessness Forum Schedule
Dates: Saturday 23rd - Friday 29th August
Venues: Nobel Peace Centre, Rådhusplassen, and Salvation Army, Oslo (see specific sessions for venues)
Each day of the Forum features sessions that explore topics and solutions relevant to homelessness in Norway. Sessions have been organised by a wide range of organisations and curated by our local hosts The Norwegian Salvation Army. These include hope, housing first, women’s homelessness and gender-based violence, drug and alcohol addiction, loneliness, sport for social impact, building trusted relationships in social work and more.
Scroll down and choose a day to see it’s sessions, their venues and whether they are in Norwegian or English. The event is free and welcomes people from across sectors and interests - from people who have experienced homelessness to social workers and policy makers, to researchers and social innovators.
Everything is in-person but the events at the Nobel Peace Centre on Monday 25th August will also be available online.
Register (forms in English and Norwegian):
Can’t be there in person? You can join online - only available for events at the Nobel Peace Centre on Monday 25th August (English).
All times are in CEST (Central European Summer Time). See the schedule for:
SATURDAY 23RD AUGUST and SUNDAY 24TH August
Forms in English and Norwegian - see individual sessions for spoken language.
SATURDAY 23 AUGUST
Time: 16:30–17:15
Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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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, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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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
See individual sessions for spoken language.
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.
combating homelessness in Norway
08:30 - 09:00 : Coffee & Networking
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Evelyn Kirsten Dyb, OsloMet University
Signe Haukvik Haugen, Norwegian Salvation Army
Players from Gatefotball, Salvation Army (Norway’s Homeless World Cup Member)
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Professor Emma Tomalin, Leeds University, will present her research into The Salvation Army’s use of this celebrated model for tackling homelessness.
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Ida Sollien Kjeldal, Department Manager in Family Residency (The Norwegian Salvation Army) will discuss supporting families.
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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
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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, Oslo.
Time: 14:30 - 15:15
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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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
Tuesday 26th August
See individual sessions for spoken language.
Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: NorwegianPeople who have had substance abuse problems are often outside of working life. At the same time, having a job, meaningful activities and a drug-free network are crucial for managing to stay drug-free after treatment. Stable work and income provide a fertile ground for coping, belonging and recovery. A safe network of people who don't use drugs is good medicine against loneliness and social exclusion.
So why is it so difficult to get in place? This event focuses on how we can get more people with previous or ongoing drug addiction into work and ensure that they have good networks and engaging activities.Moderator: Inger Lise Hansen, (Secretary General of Actis)
Panellists:
Jorunn Mathiesen (CEO of the Salvation Army, Jobben)
Henrik Larsen (Association for Comprehensive Drug Policy).
Session Organiser: Actis
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: NorwegianThe Norwegian Office of the Auditor General strongly criticizes the authorities' lack of follow-up of people with concurrent substance abuse and mental illness in terms of health services, housing, activity services, interaction and involvement of relatives. The main organization of the Norwegian Addictions Association invites politicians and the Norwegian Office of the Auditor General to a conversation about the way forward.
Session Organisers: Rusfeltets Hovedorganisasjon
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: NorwegianNav 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 “With Hope in Our Bags”
Session Organisers: NAV Oslo, The Norwegian Salvation Army “With Hope in Our Bags”, Department for Youth and Fretex
Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point, Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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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
See individual sessions for spoken language.
Venue: ‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: NorwegianLoneliness and social isolation are major public health challenges where we know that loneliness has increased, especially among youth and young adults. The government's work on a national strategy to reduce loneliness (2019-2023) has, among other things, supported the initiative and the establishment of social meeting places and activity offers. Does this address the loneliness problem or does it prevent isolation? Is it enough? And how do we face complicated loneliness? Do we need to think new things?
Moderator: Martine Gjøtz Howden / Susanne Vetter
Session Organiser: The Salvation Army, Mellom oss (Between Us)
Venue:
The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo.
Language: See session descriptions
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Venue: Nobel Peace Center
Language: NorwegianThe 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: Ida Sollien Kjeldal, Department Manager in Family Residency, The Salvation Army
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Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
Language: EnglishHope 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:
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: The Salvation Army and VID Specialized University.
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Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
Language: NorwegianSpeakers: Researchers, OsloMet University
Session Organiser: OsloMet University
Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point,
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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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
See individual sessions for spoken language.
Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup tournament venue, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: NorwegianThe established framework for substance abuse care is being challenged. Patients often have multiple diagnoses and mental illnesses that can be challenging to accommodate in the health care system. Many feel alone and isolated when faced with complex systems, and have few or no close relatives.
The development challenges current services and raises important questions about how we should meet the elderly and sick with substance abuse disorders.
Are we able to provide a satisfactory service without adapted and separate units that specifically target this group? We invite you to a conversation about the future of care and responsibility for a group that all too often falls between the cracks.
Participants: Liv Bente Nilsson (General Manager, Gatehospitalet ‘Street Hospital’) and Annette Fredriksen (Nurse, Gatehospitalet ‘Street Hospital’ and PhD candidate)
Session Organisers: The Salvation Army Street Hospital
Venue:
The Nobel Peace Center, Oslo.
Language: See session descriptions
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Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
Language: NorwegianSport 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: EnglishThis panel discussion will explore local and international initiatives that support women affected by, or at risk of, homelessness and/or gender-based violence (GBV). The speakers 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 and promoting a sense of agency.
Panallists: Nancy Waweru,
Session Organiser: Homeless World Cup Foundation
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Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
Language: NorwegianThe alcohol abuse organization Av-og-til launches the report “Children who were affected. Young people’s voices about adults’ alcohol use in 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
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Venue: Nobel Peace Centre
Language: EnglishSport 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 from success being about competitive victory to recognising that it is about improved community, life skills, mental and physical health and more.
Moderator: Hector Moyeton, Ashoka Sport for Changemaking
Panellists:
Rune Rasmussen Isegran (National Coordinator, Frelsesarmeens Gatefotball), Rutha (Former Homeless World Cup player for Norway), Jimmy Westerheim (Founder & CEO, The Human Aspect). More speakers to be announced.
Session Organisers: Homeless World Cup Foundation and Ashoka Sport for Changemaking
Venue:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point,
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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Venue: Innovation Arena - Meeting Point , Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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
See individual sessions for spoken language.
Venue:
‘The Tent’ - Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: English
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Venue: ‘The Tent’
Language: EnglishSociologist 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:
Innovation Arena - Meeting Point
Homeless World Cup, Rådhusplassen, Oslo.
Language: Norwegian (English translation)
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Venue: 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 (researcher, 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