Housing: an educational European ROad towards civil rights Erasmus Project

Project Title

Housing: an educational European ROad towards civil rights

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Recognition (non-formal and informal learning/credits); Inclusion – equity; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

Mental illness affects around 27% (83m.) of Europeans annually (European Social Work, 2013). Studies comparing community-based services with other models of care show significant better outcomes on adherence to treatment, clinical symptoms, quality of life, housing stability, and vocational rehabilitation (Braun P. et al.1981; Conway M. et al.1994; Bond et al.2001)
More specifically, community based mental health promotion has been highlighted in:
-The European Mental Health Action Plan for 2010-2020, which interacts with inclusion policies at a national level
-The Mental Health Pact (2009) encouraging policy makers to support the transition towards community-based settings in mental health care
Housing is founded on the safeguard of rights (citizenship, stigma reduction, etc.), on the rationalisation of public budget and on the development of active and supportive citizenship. It is closely connected to the internationally well-known and widespread approach of Recovery. The right to housing, into the context of disability, offers an alternative to non-appropriate institutionalization
HERO Goals:
1. Create a European curriculum, supported by/complete with international Housing Quality Indicators, to help local communities to develop skills and competences, and their validation, for an effective Housing process
2. Facilitate the access to education on Housing of Local Communities
3. Increase quality of informal learning (work, family, leisure time) and non-formal learning in the social inclusion field in relation to Housing pathways
4. Widen the key competencies of professionals and non-professionals who work in the social inclusion field
5. Reduce inequalities of learning results on behalf of people with severe mental disease but even those citizens who don’t usually pursue any form of lifelong learning on inclusion
6. Valorise the housing competencies.

Six organizations from 5 EU countries are part of the partnership, with long experience in mental health care, de-institutionalisation and social inclusion actions for people affected by severe mental diseases.
IT ASL ROMA2 is responsible for programming, coordinating and implementing mental health interventions of adult population.
IT FONDAZIONE DI LIEGRO has the mission to prevent and remove all forms of social exclusion and poverty by solidarity and mutual assistance.
BE PEGODE, a non-profit association, provides support to people with disabilities and develops networks to encourage a collaborative approach with local agencies.
GR PEPSAEE Scientific, a non-profit association established in 1997, is specialized in supporting, coordinating and empowering rehabilitation and work integration for people with mental health issues.
HR_DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL PSYCHIATRY OF UNIVERSITY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL VRAPCE is the leading institution for the rehabilitation of people with mental disorders in Croatia, and collaborates with users organizations and social organisations for housing
UK_MEH is an established voluntary and community sector organisation with focus on Social Inclusion. It supports disadvantaged individuals into employment, training and self-employment through adult learning methodologies.
Main activities realized:
Literature review and focus groups
Educational needs survey
Curriculum: designing, content writing, learning tools, videos.
Testing of the curriculum (during the C1); Piloting phase.
Uploading of the Curriculum on website and/or learning platforms.

Learning and training methodology based on co-production, resources valorisation, empowerment and recovery approach led the partnership to the achievement of the following results:

HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH. QUALITY INDICATORS TOOLKIT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES-eBook-O1;
EDUCATIONAL NEEDS SURVEY;
TRAINING CURRICULUM ON HOUSING O2 and its Guideline;
RECOGNITION CERTIFICATE.

Out of these, HERO produced tangible outputs for the purpose of management as well as for the dissemination and valorisation activities.
It also produced intangible results relating to knowledge, skills, attitudes and experience gained by the participants:
Development of transversal and communication skills. Promotion of behaviors attitude and values relating to the EU citizenship and fundamental rights; new working methods within EU teams; new expertise to improve Housing; management experiences in intercultural dialogue and cooperation.

All the documents are available in the five partners’ languages on www.housing-project.eu

Improving housing services through educational pathways met both ethical and cultural interests and economical sustainability: more inclusive communities, more housing projects developed by a network of local resources, reduction in mental health expenditure, reduction of hospitalization for Mental health patients.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 376055,49 Eur

Project Coordinator

ASL ROMA 2 & Country: IT

Project Partners

• Vereniging Voor Solidariteit VZW
• FONDAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE DON LUIGI DI LIEGRO ONLUS
• KINISI ADELFON ATOMON ME PROVLIMATA PSYCHIKIS YGEIAS KIN AFY
• Klinika za psihijatriju Vrapce
• MERSEYSIDE EXPANDING HORIZONS LIMITED
• Center of Psychological and Pedagogical Support
• Pegode