Project Own Keys. (NGO No Fixed Abode) A Person experienced homelessness is the best expert in the very matters concerning homelessness

Transcription

1 Project Own Keys (NGO No Fixed Abode) A Person experienced homelessness is the best expert in the very matters concerning homelessness Homelessness is not a question of an individual quality, it s a question of circumstances that can be changed

2 No Fixed Abode NGO The association No Fixed Abode was founded by homeless themselves in 1986 Low threshold grassroot work, advocacy and case management among those hardest to accommodate (disconnectedness and social exclusion, problems with trust of other people and services, trauma, substance abuse, criminal issues)

3 No Fixed Abode Vailla Vakinaista Asuntoa NGO Finland HOUSING FIRST UNIT Sällikoti Community Home ACTIVITIES Member activities, coordination of volunteers work, instruction of practicants (social welfare & health), increasing participation COOPERATION with municipalities, authorities, regional work in Finland, interorganizational relationships, international cooperation, FEANTSA, Finnish Government program to reduce and end long-term homelessness; No shelters! No Fixed Abode PLACES OF VARIOUS FUNCTIONS Principles: easy-toaccess, openness Kalkkers Night Café, Vepa Center of peer support, Volunteers, Night bus Office IMPACTING ON SOCIETY Informing public and media, Asukki- Magazine, The Homeless Night yearly , campaigns, events, happenings PROJECTS Experimental projects based on the needs and experiences of the homeless themselves, Own Keys project GRASSROOT basis: direct contact with the homeless everyday life

4 E.g. Expertise by Experiment 27 years of participation in No Fixed Abode Ideas and initiatives of the homeless carried into practice Asukki Magazine 1987 Renovating a property rented 1989 from the City of Helsinki Night of the Homeless from 1999 Outreach work at night time 2006 Center of Peer Support VEPA place in the Housing Concept Competition 2009 (competition announced by the city of Helsinki: planning of a housing unit and services with homeless people)

5 Café Lagoon - renovation of a bus, information on wheels 2010 HoPe European network of homeless 2011 Name on the Door (No Fixed Abode had a special focus on promoting participation and empowerment of homeless people. The group of people who had experienced homelessness created The Suggestions for Participation)

6 Every idea and initiative concerns, alcohol abuse is not an obstacle Tools for improved communication, comprehensibility of information concerning homeless themselves Cooperation between municipalities and the association Vva, expertise of NGO > Vva as a bridge builder between different operational culture levels

7 Project Own Keys Own Keys is an innovative participation project ( ) by the association No Fixed Abode (in Finnish Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry, Vva ry for short). The project is developed as an extension of the Finnish Government s program to reduce and eliminate long-term homelessness, its second period PAAVO II, to support and aid it. PAAVO II = to get rid of the shelters -> housing first - people are provided with adequate and appropriate support in their homes. The project is based on the work by experts by experience. The project is funded by Finland s Slot Machine Association.

8 In the project Own Keys the voice of the homeless will be heard in planning of supported housing and services. Participation in planning will be carried out in all steps of the planning process. The project is targeted to participate in planning services from the very beginning in four cooperating towns (Lahti, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Tampere). Setting up a frame of a network of influential participants (national network of homeless people). Processing the work can be used in similar projects for planning and producing services.

9 In the project both those presently experiencing homelessness and those who have experienced homelessness will be involved. Each town has a detailed plan concerning e.g. housing, support, crisis accommodation or a day centre. Pro-user patterns are considered when planning these services. Experts by experience gather in the cooperating towns the views of homeless people. People with experience in homelessness to be used in all planning concerning homeless services.

10 Building a trust-based relationship with homeless or formerly homeless > grassroot surveys and interviews > snowballeffect Peer support (e.g. community meetings, outdoor activities, a trip together to homelessness fair, eating together) Opportunity to influence on matters concerning housing, support, services for homeless etc.

11 Challenges, surprises Professionals work was strained by co-workers who are settled against to expertise by experience practice Description of his/her own story Slow progress and difficulty to see products of work Coping with strange professional terms Health service expenses in the project bigger than expected Do they really ask our opinion > We do have something to give Important for coping at work: good atmosphere, firm support from foremen and willingness to help

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13 Conclusions and results Project workers are members of the steering group in each town Regular meetings with architects and builders and other specialists related to building Cooperation between municipalities and Association Vva, expertise of the NGO Own Keys works as a link to a wider strategy of social policies and sustainment Services: holistic approach to homelessness, centered on the homeless needs

14 After the project: continuity by setting up a frame of a network of influential participants (national network of homeless people) Finding ways to help people to help themselves Right to have your voice heard, hearing also the voices of the unheard Project workers prefer calling themselves experts on homelessness instead of experts by experience

15 Feedback from the Own Keys project partners It's great to embrace a new way of working Experts by Experience play a key role, they are not statists in the background Homeless experiences and point of view have become particularly evident / heard Training and supervising of the new local Experts by Experience has been very good Improved networking at the local level Project worker is street-wise, speaks directly and has ideas New perspectives and being on the cutting edge; stimulating debate Expert by Exp. has been open in meetings and have received good feedback from residents of the housing unit The Expert by Experience has been an eagerly awaited guest

16 Sanna Tiivola, Executive Manager Association No Fixed Abode, Finland Vailla vakinaista asuntoa ry (No Fixed Abode) Kinaporinkatu 2 D 3.floor FI Helsinki, Finland For more information about the project Own Keys: Carole.Brady@vvary.fi Raija.Maunula@vvary.fi