To Live in Health and Dignity (1999-2000)

Precariousness affects an increasing number of people in different areas and the exclusion beyond national differences is a major European problem. The phenomenon of the homeless and mentally ill people, abandoned on the streets, living in reception centres and in precarious housing conditions is only the visible tip of a societal problem.

The project was an initiative of the grassroots i.e.: the practitioners who desire to make their practice more 'inter-disciplinary' and 'inter-sectoral and to develop, in a more adequate way, the services proposed and at the same time to present the indications and recommendations to political entities.

Objectives

• Observing and evaluating the mental, physical and social health needs of disadvantaged people;
• Recording, analysing and assessing diverse good practices and methods in several European cities;
• Providing local, regional and European health policy makers with appropriate methods and indications which best ('proximity' approach) meet the health needs of this group of citizens;
• Promoting support and developing an interdisciplinary and inter-sectoral collaboration between welfare organisations, charity associations and public health services for a new partnership and action;
• Developing local network, structuring the European MHSE network, and liasing this network with other European networks working in the health sector;
• Publicising the results: opening an Internet Forum and promoting training for social and health workers;
• Preparing a feasibility study for the pilot and transnational project: 'Health in the street', in order to bring health promotion, education and prevention where they are: on the street, in the subway, and for circulating information and facilitating assess to health care.

Activities and outcomes

Local Level

• Four seminars: Copenhagen, Rome, London, Berlin.
• Visit/debate: in each city where the seminars were organised.
• Report/dossier on the situation of the 10 capitals.
• Inter-disciplinary and pluralist networking.
• Local awareness and circulation of information.
• Possible pilot project: 'Health at the street'.

European Level

• A European Seminar: Athens.
• European report/dossier: 'Health & dignity' with the comparative presentation of the context, the analysis of the needs and their indicators, comparative evaluation of the methodological and pragmatic input of the assistance associations in the health formation, education and development.
• Extension and development of the European network.
• European awareness and circulation (Commission, Parliament, Council).
• Presentation of the transnational pilot project: 'Health at the street'.

Theoretical Level

• Priority: health prevention/promotion (mental health), deepening the analytical knowledge of the differentiated needs of the person as a whole, while highlighting the priorities as to health/well being of the disadvantaged people (homeless mentally ill).
• Heighten the awareness on interaction - connection: health and precariousness and dignity.
• Permanent and specific formation provided to the participants of this initiative, through the participation in colloquia and seminar.

Practical Level

• Quarterly letters and bulletins: information and indications resulting from this initiative will be circulated in the newsletters of the institutions and appropriate magazines. A MHSE Liaison letter is also part of this plan.
• Website: exchanging experiences, reflections, information.

Partners

The partners came from various EU countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and UK.