Working with people facing homelessness and severe mental health difficulties demands more than technical competence. It requires services that protect dignity, reduce harm, and create real opportunities for recovery and inclusion. The Dignity & Well-Being – Exchange for changing project was designed as a strategic partnership for vocational education and training of professionals working with homeless people (and refugees), with a special focus on those who are most deprived and severely mentally ill.

What makes this approach different

Instead of abstract “best practices,” the project builds learning through exchange and inter-vision: discussing real-life profiles, comparing how services respond, and learning directly from practice settings. This method has been used by SMES-Europa to support shared learning across countries and service models.

Project goals (in plain language)

The project aimed to:

• Build a training curriculum and training tools to strengthen daily practice.
• Improve how services provide dignity and wellbeing for people facing homelessness and mental health problems.
• Support professionals in navigating barriers to care and inclusion with a more coherent, humane approach.

Recommended reading for teams

If you’re developing onboarding or continuous training, consider sharing the Dignity & Well-Being manual with your staff group. It was produced within the project and is intended as a practical tool for future professionals.