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Description
The Housed Foundation conducts outreach activities that break down stereotypical perceptions of the homelessness crisis and combats prejudice against those who experience it. We are refining our working method and trying to adapt it to local conditions to make it as responsive as possible to the needs of the recipients. We want to show how this method can be used on a wider scale in work with other groups. We will be working on this as part of this project.
Summary of project results
The project focused on the following issues related to the work of the Foundation''s team and the area of its activities:
- team building and support in working with participants,
- activities promoting the Foundation, and above all, the topic of homelessness, which is the main area of activity,
- overcoming stereotypes and prejudices in the perception of the homelessness crisis,
- expanding the organization''s activities to include new groups and new or modified methods,
- establishing cooperation with other organizations and institutions to strengthen and expand the Foundation''s activities.
Conducting Balinton training, which was tested as a form of supervision for an interdisciplinary team working with people in a homelessness crisis. Developing materials for social media promoting issues related to the homelessness crisis and breaking stereotypical, prejudiced perceptions of this topic and increasing the visibility of the organization. As part of this, a blog, a YouTube channel, video scripts for the channel and a communication strategy were created. Three videos showing different aspects of homelessness were created:
- "I love you, but..." - in this version we enter the world of a toxic relationship. Women who are defenseless and financially dependent on their husbands or partners, who can no longer bear the fear, violence and humiliation, run away from home. If they have nowhere to go, they go to the streets Nothing good will happen to them there! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22deG7UVBe4;
- "... or you may not come back!" - here we are talking about how parents, not accepting their children''s sexuality, turn their lives into a nightmare. Young people, wanting to remain themselves 100%, choose the "street" option. For them, anywhere is better than not at home. However, nothing good will happen to them on the street - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkOSmkgThUc;
- "Don''t be afraid, little one..." - in this part of the campaign we are talking about domestic abuse. Often, only escaping from home to a public space gives the victim hope of freedom from the perpetrator. This is a false hope. Nothing good will happen to a woman on the street. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EU-BdnJaMpM.
Meetings were organized with organizations working with people at risk of exclusion to plan activities to protect them from experiencing the homelessness crisis.
• Strengthening team management, its integration and introduction of permanent supervision - thanks to the Balinton training conducted as part of the project. We have found the right type of supervision, which we continue after the project ends. The training had a very positive impact on team integration, which is crucial in our work with people in a homelessness crisis. When dealing with very difficult situations and problems on a daily basis, a team you can rely on is crucial.
• Increasing the visibility of the Foundation, as well as greater interest and understanding of the topic of homelessness. This issue is appearing more and more often in the media, and the Foundation is contacted by people who encounter problematic but also controversial situations related to homelessness. We therefore have the opportunity to discuss and clarify problematic issues in this area.
• Drawing attention to the causes of homelessness, showing the real ones and breaking the stereotypical perception of the phenomenon. It was also crucial to analyze the risk of homelessness in a broader context. In discussions with other organizations working with groups at risk of exclusion, emphasis was placed on the need to take action at the earliest possible stage, in situations that seem to be unrelated to the homelessness crisis, but are a real threat. A specific action plan in this area has been developed.