This study analyses the pathways between housing and homelessness of young income support recipients in Helsinki. The data used is unique in the Scandinavian and European context. The data covers all young (19-27 years at the end of 2008) single people in Helsinki, who received income support for at least one month during 2008-2010. Subgroups of the homeless young adults, based on the duration of homelessness and the stability of the homeless pathway, were compared against several psycho-social factors. The study adds to knowledge about young homeless recipients of income support in Helsinki, and participates in the academic debate about methods for quantifying homelessness.