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We help the most vulnerable
individuals of Chernivtsi - the elderly, the homeless, and the
poor to enrich Ukrainian society with Democracy and
Hope..
The problem of homelessness
today is very acute for Ukraine. It is a result of large changes in the social
and political life of our country and economic transformations during our transition
to a market economy. The average standard of living has dropped considerably
(by 80%) and an estimated 25% of the population now lives below poverty level.
(According to Governmental Committee of Statistic data, 2003).This economical
situation was the main reason for the growth of the homeless population in
Ukraine. Narodna Dopomoha has worked with homeless
people since 1998, starting with our mobile service "Meals on Wheels", collection
of information about the homeless during our street work (Social patrolling), and
the creation of a shelter for homeless people.
The Centre for Re-socialization of Homeless People was opened in 2003 during the implementation of the project
"Social reintegration of the homeless", financed by the TACIS Institution Building Partnership Programme (IBPP) of the European Commission
(2003-2004)
The Centre was created thanks to effective planning
and implementation by Narodna Dopomoha and by financial and material support from
our partners: Chernivtsi City Council, Austrian NGO Volkshilfe, and assistance of
other Ukrainian and international organizations.
The main goal of the Centre is to provide a complex
set of social and healthcare services aimed at further reintegration of homeless
people into a normal environment and lifestyle.
The technology of the Centre's work was
designed with the assistance of Ukrainian and Austrian experts and based on the
principals of work with the homeless in Austria. These principles were adapted
to the current reality of the Ukrainian social and economical situation and to
a city the size of Chernivtsi. |