GOOD PRACTICE TITLE: Social housing in Supportive Environment (SHSE)

KIND OF PRACTICE: Housing for socially vulnerable and homeless

DOCUMENT AUTHOR: Housing Center – Housing Development Center for Socially Vulnerable Groups, Belgrade, Serbia Branislava Zarkovic

PLACE: Total of 34 municipalities in Serbia, Sabac Municipality as good practice example

METHODOLOGY (HOW THE PRACTICE WORKS):

The project has two main components:

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1. The construction of social housing units It is a challenge to create a living space that would foster solidarity, communication and inclusion. The newly built municipally owned apartments are of different size. Special attention is given to common places - common living rooms, common laundries, terraces and outer space (gardens, patios, etc.). These are the central spots for social contact and communication among the inhabitants and within the neighborhood. Due attention is given to the needs of the people with disabilities.

The buildings are close to the traffic network and public transport. Special care is taken that:

a. Building standards correspond to the average housing quality in the country

b. The projects are developed within the framework of a city’s overall urban planning strategy. Buildings are integrated into the urban structure, placed among other residential buildings and have appropriate access to the transport network and public services.

c. Lifetime Building Standards securing the adaptability of the buildings to the needs of the aging population are respected and introduced into the building practice in Serbia.

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2. The creation of “Supportive Environment” Creation of a socially “supportive environment” is a continuous process, composed of a set of services provided by the Host Family, Centre for Social Work and Local Community – three pillars of the project.

• The Host Family is a socially vulnerable family but with the working capacity. The family lives together with other families in the building and, by sharing the everyday activities, provide them with daily assistance of a good neighbor. It facilitates the integration in the new social environment, the development of good- neighborly relationship among the tenants, positive atmosphere in the building and mutual respect between the tenants and the neighborhood. It is a catalyst of the social life in the buildings; it supports the tenants’ initiatives, mediates in conflicts, encourages dialogue and supports group activities of the tenants and the neighborhood. It assists the development of solidarity among the tenants and their self-reliance.

• The Center for Social Work is the basic unit of the social protection system in Serbia and it exists in each municipality. The Center renders professional services in the field of social protection and manages the buildings for social housing in supportive environment. The Center monitors the work of the host family and is responsible for its training. The Center defines the tailored support to the needs of each tenant and stimulates the creation of the conditions for independent life in the community.

• The Local Community is responsible for financing of the service and is the key guarantee for its long-term sustainability. From its own budget the local community provides the funds for different subventions, in accordance with its own capacities and concrete needs - the funds for human resources engaged in the provision of service, capacity building programs and subventions. It is responsible for the long-term maintenance of the buildings.

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The roles and obligations of three project pillars are precisely defined in the Guide Book on SHSE, developed by the Ministry of Social Policy, in cooperation with the Housing Center.

There is an estimate, based on the concrete experiences, that the period of one to three years is needed for full psychological “ownership” of housing solutions offered with SHSE. Over time, as beneficiaries are strengthening their capacities and gaining more independence, due to the support services applied, most families need support only occasionally. It is important that municipal authorities are acquainted with this dynamics in order to ensure full financial support for all initial costs.

VALIDITY (IF THE PARTICIPANTS THINK THAT THE PRACTICE RESOLVED THE PROBLEMATIC):

The SHSE is an innovative and comprehensive approach to social housing and housing of most vulnerable, fulfilling a number of social objectives. Apart from helping the socially disadvantaged to meet their housing needs, SHSE contributes to the creation of an inclusive society, by creating an environment that assists specific target groups in improving their opportunities in life. Creation of socially supportive environment is a continuous process, composed of a set of activities and services provided by the Host Family and the Centre for Social Work. The key innovative feature of this project is the role of the Host Family. It can be said that the institution of a Host Family introduced through this project is an attempt at institutionalizing solidarity.

RESOURCES OR CONDITIONS NEEDED FOR THE PRACTICE:

SUSTAINABILITY:

Social Housing in Supportive Environment is a living, dynamic service whose results depend in large part on the imagination and initiative of the Centers for Social Work managing this service and Host Families, as well as on the beneficiaries for whom this service is intended. The key feature of the project is continuous provision of different support measures to the beneficiaries by the local community, Center for Social Work and Host Family in order to activate their potentials and enable them to live independently and actively participate in the life of community. The SHSE is financed by the local Governments, which recognized SHSE potential and are willing to extend the capacities.