SHAPE 2: ENGAGE ON POVERTY AND HOMELESSNESS IN NORTH MACEDONIA

Participants visited the Day Center “Star” for homeless people, managed by the Viennese Red Cross, the Medicine Depot which is also run by the Austrian Red Cross, providing medicine for uninsured persons as well as AmberMed, offering health care services free of charge.

Other organisations visited include the Chancenhaus Obdach Favorita which has a special focus on supporting homeless women and children as well as families, the Neunerhaus and the emergency night shelter at VinziRast.

Further, a formal meeting was held with the Austrian Ministry for Labour and Social Affairs where the concept of housing first and funding schemes such as the „Wohnschirm“ were discussed.

Very personal insights provided a guided tour of Vienna by a woman who has experienced homelessness herself (SHADES tour), talking about challenges, available support services and the importance of resocialization.

All participants were impressed by the different services available and many new ideas for the homeless shelter in Momin Potok, which is run by the City Red Cross Skopje - and supported within the SHAPE project - could be gained. Key take aways included for example how to better involve volunteers in services and the development of internship programs or how to foster cooperation and exchange with other organisations and public authorities.

The SHAPE project - Strengthening Health, Access, Participation and Social Equality in the Western Balkans, is supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection and is running from October 2024 until September 2026.