CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
EDRA supporting the quality of life and the rehabilitation/integration process of disadvantaged individuals being at risk of social exclusion, as well as programs for the prevention & the sensitization of the community around mental health problems and the promotion of mental health in general.
Read more: www.edra-coop.gr
K.S.D.E.O. "HEADQUARTERS" trying to contribute to combating the problem of homelessness, which in recent years has reached unprecedented proportions for Greek society, implemented, in cooperation with the Municipality of Peristeri, the program "Housing and Work for the Homeless" with the distinctive title "REFORM-LIFE" and project code SE-7, which lasted from November 2018 to August 2021.
The Plan, which resulted from the partnership of the Municipality of Peristeri (Eligible Body) with K.S.D.E.O. "EDRA" (Administrative Agency of the Plan), concerned the support of groups of the population of the Municipality of Peristeri and by extension the wider arc of western Attica, which were deprived of housing due to socio-economic conditions.
The general objective of the program was to contribute to the elimination of the phenomenon of homelessness, while the specific objectives are defined as follows:
The specific Plan aimed at the immediate and smooth reintegration of 36 beneficiaries (30 adults and 6 minor children) from 26 households (21 individuals, 2 four-member families and 3 single-parent families), who lived in the Municipality of Peristeri and neighboring municipalities ( Ilio, Aegaleo, Agios Anargyros, Chaidario and Phylis) and came from the following groups:
Families and individuals, who had been registered by the social service of the Municipality of Peristeri and/or neighboring municipalities (Ilio, Aigaleo, Agioi Anargyroi, Chaidariou, Phylis) as homeless, living on the street or in inappropriate accommodation (mobile homes, cars, improvised constructions, shacks, shacks, containers, in temporary buildings for habitation based on the existing legislation), Families and individuals, who were accommodated in Hostels for the Transitional Hospitality of the Homeless or Dormitories.
The "Housing and Work for the Homeless" Program ran from November 2018 to August 2021.
The reintegration of individuals was achieved through comprehensive and personalized plans, which smoothly led those benefiting from homelessness into independent housing solutions, through the provision of housing and social care services. In addition, through a network of labor mobilization, information and labor counseling services, the labor reintegration of the beneficiaries was achieved, with the aim of reconnecting them with the labor market, their independence and full autonomy.
The two Special Objectives of the plan (Housing and Work) were interrelated and absolutely committed to the final goal of the plan, that is, the complete autonomy of the beneficiaries. It is obvious that the first objective, that of providing housing and social care, could not operate independently and be effective, as it would constitute a measure of temporary relief to the homeless with a specific end date. On the contrary, the specific project, through the synergy of the two pillars of actions, which served the specific objectives, offered a real possibility of restart to individuals and families, who wished to claim once again the basic quality of life and a place in the social fabric.
The partnership of the Municipality of Peristeri (Eligible Entity) with K.S.D.E.O. "HEADQUARTERS" (Managing Agency of the Scheme) carried out actions, which ensured the beneficiaries:
In addition, during the duration of the Program, the following actions were implemented with the aim of supporting and mobilizing the beneficiaries:
Group work counseling session with a KPA OAED work counselor
Within the framework of the Housing and Work Program for the Homeless "METARYTHMI-ZO" and in collaboration with the OAED KPA2 of Peristeri, a group work counseling session was held on 10/12/2019 with a work counselor of the KPA OAED.
The group session had the following structure:
Voluntary action
Within the framework of the Housing and Work Program for the Homeless "METARYTHMI-ZO" and in collaboration with the Municipality of Peristeri, a voluntary action was planned, so that the beneficiaries mobilized and took action with the aim of their reintegration into the social fabric.
This action took place on Friday 20/9/2019 during the solidarity concert of the Municipality of Peristeri. The beneficiaries of the Program participated by collecting food to support the Social Grocery of the Municipality of Peristeri.
Participation in an educational/cultural activity
On 22/11/2019, a visit was made to the Acropolis Museum and, after the beneficiaries toured the Museum's exhibition spaces, they enjoyed their coffee in the cafeteria, on the museum's roof.
Through the "Housing and Work for the Homeless" Program, a total of 26 residences were leased throughout the urban fabric of Attica, the rent of which was covered for 18 months exclusively by the Managing Agency K.S.D.E.O. HEADQUARTERS, through funding from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
In this way, in total, 36 beneficiaries were housed (30 adults and six minor children). It is important to mention that, to date, the percentage of 85% keeps the house, which was rented out through the Program and now pays its rent from its own resources.
In addition, through the Program, 7 beneficiaries joined work in the private sector, while, through labor mobilization, information and professional counseling, 11 beneficiaries joined the labor market, either in the private or in the public sector.
The place of action of the "Housing and Work for the Homeless" Program was mainly the Municipality of Peristeri and its neighboring Municipalities, and, more specifically, the Municipalities of Ilion, Aigaleo, Agioi Anargyroi, Chaidari and Fili.
The organizations that contribute to the implementation of the program and that are considered to be helpful in the effort to reintegrate the beneficiaries into the social fabric, are:
It is observed that the homeless, who live on the street for a long time, face problems, such as their victimization, the loss of sociability and, finally, their social inactivity. To address the extreme consequences of homelessness, the program's social workers:
As each of the homeless individuals had different needs and preferences, the package of services and benefits provided to them was based on an individualized social reintegration plan. This personalized approach was a necessary process to achieve the goals of the program. Through the contact of the beneficiaries with the scientific staff, their needs and problems were diagnosed, they were empowered and helped in their efforts to reintegrate into the social fabric. In addition, they were connected with education, social care and health services, as their long-term exposure to street conditions had created a multitude of health problems.
Through labor counseling and reintegration into the labor market, the following emerged:
The benefit for the Agency K.S.D.E.O. EDRA was primarily the consolidation of cooperation with the Municipality of Peristeri, resulting in the undertaking of two more "Housing and Work for the Homeless" Programs, which are ongoing. In addition, due to the successful implementation of the Program and the cooperation with the Municipality of Peristeri, there was a synergy and implementation of the Program with another inter-municipal scheme, and, more specifically, with the Municipalities of Ilion, Agios Anargyro and Petroupoli.
In addition, the Agency K.S.D.E.O. EDRA, with this specific program as a springboard, participates as a member of the Greek network for the right to housing and housing, while it has consolidated its cooperation with other organizations that deal with the phenomenon of homelessness in Greece.
