Juha Kaakinen is a Professor of Practice in the faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere,  Before retiring in 2022 he was for nine years the CEO of Y-Foundation, which is the biggest nationwide NGO  providing housing for homeless people and affordable social housing with 19000 apartments. He is an experienced developer of public administration and social and health services. He has also worked as a programme leader of the national programme to end long-term homelessness, and as a researcher and a consultant. He has written over 50 articles and research reports on homelessness, housing and social services. He is internationally known as an experienced and passionate developer of innovative housing solutions to homeless people and affordable social housing.