European projects
SMES Europa takes part in European cooperation projects that aim to improve responses to mental health, homelessness and extreme social exclusion. These projects allow the network to:
- explore and test innovative approaches to outreach, support and service integration;
- connect front-line services, training providers, universities and public authorities from different countries;
- produce tools, training resources and policy recommendations that can be used and adapted in diverse contexts;
- give greater visibility at European level to the realities faced by people experiencing homelessness and mental distress.
Projects overview
SMES Europa is actively involved in European cooperation projects that aim to improve responses to mental health, homelessness and extreme social exclusion. These projects:
- strengthen a European network of professionals and services working with people experiencing homelessness and mental distress;
- test and develop innovative approaches to outreach, support and integrated services;
- produce training tools, manuals and recommendations that can be used across countries.
Project work is always consistent with SMES Europa’s mission and rights-based, person-centred approach.
“Person First” Erasmus+ (2022–2024)
“Person First” is an Erasmus+ project coordinated by SMES Europa with partner organisations in nine European countries, including homeless services and academic partners.
The project builds directly on “Dignity and Well-Being” and aims to:
- identify models and practices that improve homeless people’s access to services, especially mental health and psychosocial support;
- analyse how services in different fields (social assistance, health, housing, rehabilitation) match the needs of people in situations of extreme exclusion;
- strengthen a European learning network of professionals and organisations;
- promote a person-centred, integrated approach based on four pillars: social support, mental and physical health, housing, and participation/rehabilitation.
Activities have included an exploratory survey across nine countries, study visits, workshops and the development of recommendations and tools for more person-centred and integrated services
“Dignity & Well-Being: Exchange for changing” Erasmus+ (2016–2019)
The Erasmus+ project “Dignity & Well-Being: Exchange for changing” (2016-1-PT01-KA202-022970) extended the earlier work of SMES Europa and created a strategic partnership for vocational education and training.
Main objectives:
- build a European partnership of professionals working with homeless people and refugees, with a particular focus on those who are most deprived and severely mentally ill;
- improve professionals’ capacity to listen to and understand the voices and needs of people in extreme exclusion;
- identify pathways that promote dignity, well-being and access to rights;
- produce training tools and a manual for professionals working with homeless people with mental health problems.
Key results include the manual “Practical Approaches to Working with Homeless People with Mental Health Problems” and a training curriculum used in several countries.
“Dignity and Well-Being” (2015–2016)
The “Dignity and Well-Being” project was initiated by SMES Europa to better understand the situation of homeless people with mental health problems living in very precarious conditions, sometimes apparently refusing available support.
Key features:
- three international workshops (Warsaw, Athens and Copenhagen) bringing together professionals from different countries;
- analysis of more than 50 case profiles of people living in extreme poverty and mental distress;
- publication on typical pathways into homelessness and interventions, prepared in collaboration with Fondazione Istituto Andrea Devoto.
This project laid the methodological foundations (case-profile analysis, study visits, joint reflection) for later Erasmus+ projects.
Erasmus+ Trauma Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments
Members of SMES Europa participate in an Erasmus+ project on Trauma Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments, led by Sophia and partners. smes-europa.org+1
The project:
- builds on insights and methods developed in the Dignity & Well-Being project;
- focuses on how to make organisations genuinely trauma-informed, in order to better support people who are homeless and have mental health support needs;
- promotes exchange on good practice in Trauma Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments across Europe.
SMES Europa’s role is to support networking between partners and ensure that learning is shared within the wider network.
Here we present details of SMES Europe’s projects, highlighting objectives, activities carried out, and results achieved in the field of mental health and social inclusion.
