I live, therefore I am!

The project I live, therefore I am! reg. no. CZ.03.2.60/0.0/0.0/15_042/0006169 was financed by the European Social Fund, Operational Programme Employment.

The main goal was to accommodate individuals living in shelters, hostels, and other unfavorable housing conditions in available vacant apartments and help them maintain these apartments. We proceeded from the idea that when a person has a place to live, they subsequently have greater competencies and motivation to address other unfavorable life situations, such as debt resolution, employment market realization, etc.

Providing locations:

• city of Slaný

Who was the project intended for?

• national minorities,
• individuals living in socially excluded areas.

What the project offered:

• creation of an individual housing plan - mapping housing needs and preferences - household size, desired living location, financial conditions + specific requirements (accessibility, etc.); aligning expectations - what is and what is not realistic,
• together with the beneficiary, we conducted a financial analysis of household income and expenses, set up a household budget, identified any debts and recommended their resolution, set up repayment schedules, motivated the beneficiary to save for future housing deposits, motivated to find work to increase income, ensured the beneficiary was correctly advised,
• building additional housing competencies - assistance with communication, support for non-conflict behavior, maintaining cleanliness, motivation for client proactivity,
• searching for housing in the open real estate market - with the help of a real estate specialist, we found "tailored" offers, apartment viewings, completion of applications for municipal or social housing; in case of acute housing crisis, assistance in finding so-called transitional housing,
• lease agreement review, assistance with moving, apartment furnishing, meeting neighbors, lease regulations,
• assistance after relocation - payment checks, consumption monitoring and setting ideal utility payment amounts, energy payments, communication with the landlord, conflict resolution, arrears handling,
• help with maintaining new housing - support for the beneficiary in housing competencies and other areas of life, building neighborly relationships, integration into the new community.

Principles of provision:

• providing the project to beneficiaries for FREE,
• support for independent solution of their needs,
• discreet and individual approach,
• respecting the user's free will.

The project was implemented in the city of Slaný from 1st September 2017 to 31st August 2020.

Evaluation report of the project I Live, Therefore I Am! can be downloaded below.