DIGNITY  and  WELL-BEING
2^nd  EXCHANGE and  INTER-VISION program
concerning interventions & pathways for Homeless
in  extreme  poverty  situation  with  mental  health  problems

A T H E N S    14 - 15 - 16  April   2016

Dear  Colleagues,                                                                                     1^st March 2016

                              SMES-Europa have the pleasure to invites you and your Institution to participate in the  Second Workshop of project ‘Dignity and Well-being’, which is going to take place in Athens on  14-15-16  April 2016.

The purpose of  D-&-WB European project is : to bring attention, to deepen listen the voice expressed or not, of these persons, home-less – health-less – hope-less,  living in chronically way without habitation, rough sleeping or in emergency shelters, in scandalous conditions of absolute social exclusion and deprivation.  If these are the men ?

We will try to find some answers to these fundamental questions:  

·   WHY some homeless people - with mental health problems - rough sleeping in permanent way or in emergency centres and squats - frequently - giving the impression to refuse any institutional offer of assistance and integration ?   And this number seems increases ***.  

· HOW mental health services,  emergency & assistance services, housing services, reintegration services -  co-working -  want to contribute and facilitate the promotion of the dignity and well-being of these suffering people without distinction of origin, sex and age? 

This is the agenda that we propose in Athens :  

·       study’s visits - Thursday 14 : the participants who manage to arrive the 14/4 will have an opportunity to visit in the afternoon some of centres assisting homeless & mentally ill people. 

·       workshop day - Friday 15 : based on case studies of individual persons describing their health & mental health status, social situation and interventions made on their behalf by social & health workers. The analysis of the life situations of this people, will be introduced by the local responsible of each of these fourth sectors:
       a)  Mental health institutions & community services;
       b)  Emergency shelters;   
       c)  Monitored housing; 
       d)  Inclusive participation,

The results of these workshops will be at the basis of the 14^th European seminar, where the participants will prepare the priorities and recommendations to present both to local policy makers and administrators, as to Europeans, through a hearing in the European Parliament.

·     focus group  - Saturday 16 : additional meeting on the morning dedicated to the consequences of austerity on social life & social cohesion. 

How are we building Europe of Solidarity, Social Policy, Fundamental Rights and without  borders, barriers and walls ?

Dignity & well-being  and  Fundamental right and Solidarity are the keywords, which were oriented - from le1992 - the social mission and initiatives of SMES Europa.

We count - with your active collaboration - to continue to perform at best this initiative in favour of people living in situations of extreme social and health conditions.

Thank you pour your collaboration.  For further information, please contact us.

Sincerely