More information
Description
The project goal is to improve the position of vulnerable communities in Bratislava who do not have or have only limited access to the social and health assistance. These vulnerable groups are mostly people living on the streets, people using drugs or people involved in sex business. Project will help to make a positive change in their lives by its main activities. These include accompanying people to various institutions by car, street social work, distribution of syringes and distribution of other medical material needed to reduce the risks related to drug use and / or street sex work, blood testing and sexually transmitted infections testing, etc… Project plans to involve volunteers as well who would provide mostly personal, telephone or e-mail counselling. It will also provide experts counselling in legal matters, such as dealing with executions and debts, psychological or medical counselling. Part of the project is also to publish and distribute 1 brochure aimed for people after serving a prison sentence. Project calculates to impact about 500 hundred people on the streets.
Summary of project results
People who abuse drugs and street sex workers, who may also be homeless or at risk of homelessness, are a target group that needs specific support, low-threshold services, and access to professional staff without prejudice and stigma. The objective of the project "Social assistance - a step towards improving the position of vulnerable groups" was to improve the accessibility of health and social services for the target vulnerable group and encourage them to make changes in their lives through support and communication.The main activity of the project consisted of accompanying individuals of the target group to institutions and facilities by car. The activity indirectly supported the position of those who, for various reasons, did not know how or did not want to address their social or health situation. At the meetings, the clients could consult various topics with experts or arrange accompanied visits to an institution. Testing for bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections: the activity was limited due to the risk of spreading coronavirus between people from the community and the staff who carried out the testing. Nevertheless, 62 people were tested for HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis during the course of the project. Another activity was the publication of an info-educational brochure Prison II which was aimed at individuals who have completed their prison sentences and need help to reintegrate into society. A total of 579 people were provided with services and assistance and 32 car accompaniments were given. Thanks to the project, Odysseus was able to start implementing one of its most important activities - car accompaniment. A person who had previously been unable to see a surgeon visited one and a healing process began, giving the person a chance for recovery after years of pain. During the course of the project, it became clear that if the target group has sufficient access to low-threshold services, more people would commit to positive change.