Housing First in the Moravian-Silesian Region
The article discusses a project that took place from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2022. Romodrom continues with housing and Housing First projects, for current information including a list of ongoing projects, visit HERE.
The Housing First project in the Moravian-Silesian Region reg. no. CZ.03.2.X/0.0/0.0/19_108/0013971 was financed by the European Social Fund through the Operational Program Employment.
The main goal of the project was to acquire and maintain standard housing, with the secondary goal of improving the overall situation of the supported individuals from the target group. The aim is not only to find housing but primarily to create a home. The organization Romodrom o.p.s. together with the partner organization Nová možnost, z.ú. provided standard housing for a minimum of 21 households from the Moravian-Silesian Region as part of the project. The project lasted for 3 years and focused on assisting socially excluded individuals or those at risk of social exclusion who also face other issues (such as addictions, mental illnesses, etc.).
Who was the project intended for?
- people without homes,
- people living in inadequate or insecure housing.
What did it offer?
- support to 21 project participants selected based on needs identified from an anamnestic questionnaire,
- we created an individual housing plan with the project participant,
- from a portfolio of apartments, we jointly selected the most suitable one for the participant (financially accessible, in the desired location, meeting the participant's requirements in other criteria),
- followed by the phases of contract signing and preparation for moving – agreement on who the utilities will be registered to, introduction to house rules, familiarization with house customs; planning individual moving steps, arranging additional apartment furnishings, etc.,
- the project also included support after relocation – regular visits to the participant in the apartment, monitoring rent and utility payments, addressing issues with the participant, apartment owner, or neighbors, working on family budget, minimizing and preventing risks associated with housing loss,
- working on other areas of the participant's life – community involvement, addressing loneliness, family relationships, debts, motivation for work activities, if the participant's condition allowed.
When providing the service, we followed the following principles:
- the project is provided to beneficiaries for FREE
- support for independent solution of their needs
- discreet and individual approach
- respecting the user's free will
- housing is a human right
- possibility of choice and control by the project participant
- separation of housing and support
- focus on recovery
- harm reduction (risk minimization)
- active involvement of the participant without coercion
- individual planning according to the participant's needs
- flexible support for as long as needed