Description
It is a project of comprehensive support for socially excluded people – the homeless and the poor released from prison custody throughout country. We want to help project beneficiaries to re-integrate with the society and fit in appropriate social roles. We will run a facility for homeless men released from prison and offer free legal advice. An added value is the fact that beneficiaries will be invited to participate in decision-making process concerning useful forms of assistance and support. A brochure containing recommendations for public bodies (Municipal Offices, Social Assistance Centres, Employment Agencies) will be prepared to inform them about barriers and problems perceived by project beneficiaries in their cooperation with those institutions. The recommendations are supposed to change and improve the standards of support for people who are the victims of social exclusion.
Summary of project results
"The homelessness issue among convicts and persons released from prisons and remand centres is on the rise. Of the entire homeless population, 47.3% are former inmates (released over the previous 5 years - Pomeranian Centre for Exiting Homelessness, 2012). The loss of a personal home exacerbates exclusion and limits capacity for lifestyle changes to socially acceptable options. The Social Re-Adaptation Centre operated by the Association is the only one in Warsaw targeting convicts exclusively. The project purpose was to prevent the social exclusion of persons released from penitentiary units by providing them with conditions for proper development in the society, and thus to reduce the number of reoffenders. Assistance was provided to 182 men (average time spent at the Centre: 4 months), legal assistance offered to convicts and their families (approximately 1,000 aid cases). Thirty seven, 39, and 29 persons became self-sufficient, began addiction treatment, and joined AA groups, respectively. A 24-hour aid centre for homeless men released from penitentiary units was operated (23 beds, meals, clothing, detergents), including individual work with every resident against a jointly developed plan of exiting homelessness (clarification of legal circumstances, keeping in touch with the probation officer, repaying debt, resolving old-age/health pension issues, attempts to contact the family, initiating treatment, addiction/psychological therapy, job seeking, applying for accommodation etc., caring for personal hygiene, and relationships and order at the Centre). On-site, telephone, and correspondence-based legal aid was provided to former inmates, their families and the homeless (approximately 1,000 aid cases, 39 legal letters). Project beneficiaries included 182 men who left penitentiary units less than 6 months before applying to the Centre, and approximately 1,000 legal aid recipients."
Summary of bilateral results