Homeless Shelter opens its doors in Limassol

The Limassol Municipality announces that the Centre for Support and Reintegration of Homeless People SCHEDIA opened its doors on 15/07/2019. SCHEDIA is the first Centre that provides specialised support services to our fellow citizens who are homeless.  

The Limassol Municipality, in consultation with the competent Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance, developed an integrated social plan and proceeded to the implementation of the Centre.  

The Centre deals with the homelessness issue not just as a housing or overnight stay problem, but as a complex one, resulting from many factors and often from a combination of factors.

The Centre mainly aims at the social reintegration of people facing these difficulties, by helping them to find work and a home, acquire skills, strengthen family ties etc.  

The Centre provides the following services:

1.     Emergency care

The main aim is to ensure no one is left on the streets. Homeless people will be immediately transferred to the safe environment of the shelter where they can shower, snack, rest and be protected from extreme weather conditions.

2.   Overnight placement

The second aim to be achieved by the Centre’s experts is the temporary accommodation for homeless people. During their overnight stay at the shelter, homeless people will receive the appropriate psychological support and training required to secure permanent housing.

3.     Psychosocial support

Another service provided by the Centre is the provision of psychosocial support by experts and the development of a personalised action plan. The Centre’s experts, together with the individual concerned, will write down the individual’s needs and will work with the individual to set specific goals. This needs assessment includes the provision of medical care, where appropriate, the cooperation with other specialised services and the provision of psychological and social support.

4.     Work and Housing Counselling

The fourth service provided at the Centre relates to the main part of social reintegration, which is work and housing counselling. The Centre will help people to integrate into the labour market in order for them to get back on their feet and meet their daily demands, for example the need and the right to housing. For this service, the Centre will be in regular contact and cooperation with the respective state and semi-state services.

5.     Group counselling and skills development

An important parameter for the successful outcome of the aforementioned services is team counselling and social skills development to help individuals get back on their feet and achieve their individual goals.

6.     Street work

The Centre’s experts will perform street work which includes providing emergency care and support to homeless people on the spot.

7.     Collection of statistical data

The Centre will proceed to the collection of statistical data. This is the first time this is being carried out and it will help to monitor and evaluate problems of homelessness in our city.

The Centre is staffed by social workers and psychologists, who have received adequate training, and cooperates closely with the Social Welfare Services and the Police.

The Centre can be reached at 25347878, while the public is encouraged to inform the Centre of any incidents or cases where help is needed so that its experts can intervene accordingly. The line operates daily from 8am to 9am and from 10am to 5pm on weekends.

It must be noted that the Centre was set up exclusively with the use of services of the Limassol Municipality, the assistance of the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance and, above all, the significant contribution of our fellow citizens both at a corporate and individual level.  Limassol has proven, once again, that it has a high sense of social sensitivity.