Description
In Poland, 45% of households are in debt, and 60% have no savings. In Warsaw there are no NGOs dealing with comprehensive support of debtors and the current social welfare system does not take measures preventing people from falling into debt.The project objective is to empower vulnerable groups by improving the system of non-financial social welfare services and reinforcing community work collaboration across the sectors in the context of work with socially excluded people, including Social Welfare Center (OPS) clients. Its goal is to improve the situation of at least 2800 women and men - especially social welfare clients - who are socially excluded, indebted, or at risk of debt, by developing a local community support system in nine districts of Warsaw - work based on the principle of co-production of public services with beneficiaries, permanent collaboration with OPS facilities and local institutions/NGOs.
Summary of project results
"The social assistance system conducts no timely preventive activities for persons endangered by indebtedness. Social workers see debts as a private matter of their clients, but also have no appropriate tools to help them (R. Pomianowski, Psychological effects of indebtedness, 2011). One of the tasks within the policy of preventing homelessness should be to develop District Homelessness Preventive Programs based on cooperation between assistance institutions, creditors and NGOs, including financial advisory services (The system of homelessness prevention and assistance for homeless persons in Warsaw, 2013). The aim of the project was improve the system of non-financial social services and strengthen the intersectoral cooperation for persons endangered by social exclusion because of bad financial situation. In 9 districts of Warsaw, support systems were created (the Bureau of Civil Advisory Services - Social Assistance Centre - local NGOs) that permanently improved the quality of services for persons endangered by exclusion. 3232 persons participated in the activities. The indicator of activity in overcoming bad life situations was in the group 63.3%. A seminar was organised on co-production of public services (33 participants), as well as trainings for social workers (144 participants) and inhabitants endangered by social exclusion (143 participants). In 9 advisory points 3232 indebted persons were consulted and were given 11 246 advices, including 1202 deepened consultations in financial education. 724 persons were covered by broadened social support. Their situation was discussed during 146 meetings of interdisciplinary teams. Three booklets were published on: planning domestic budget, consequences of indebtedness, ways of overcoming such situations (27 000 copies). The project activities benefited directly 3232 persons endangered by exclusion in 9 districts of Warsaw: Wola, Praga Północ, Praga Południe, Bielany, Mokotów, Śródmieście, Targówek, Ursus and Wawer. Three partners with knowledge on the situation of persons most endangered by social exclusion and homelessness participated in development of the principles for local support systems, helped in recruitment and implementation of action plans for the least resourceful clients, lend their premises."
Summary of bilateral results