Street Outreach Service
Head of organisational unit: Katalin Szabóné Vágó
Unit head: Tamás Miklós
2030 Érd, Fehérvári út 89–91.
Phone: +36 20 328 1009 (available only between 14:00 and 22:00)
Please note: telephone customer service is available in Hungarian only. For assistance in English, please contact us by email.
Outside the above hours: Menhely Foundation Dispatch Centre: +36 1 338 4186
Email: utca@szocgond.hu
The aim of the street social outreach service is to provide social and mental health support to people who live habitually in public spaces. Our tasks include identifying homeless people living in the service area, establishing care relationships with them, maintaining contact, providing case management, and monitoring them daily during crisis periods.
In dangerous situations, we take the necessary measures: we remain on site and wait for the persons or services providing care and intervention, such as the out-of-hours medical service, ambulance service, police, etc. One of our goals is placement in an institution and/or motivating and encouraging clients towards such placement. This is often the most difficult task, because people who have arranged their lives and survival around living on the streets are often reluctant to choose residential institutions due to the feeling of confinement.
Through continuous contact, we provide information to the people in our care, help with administration, support them with food and clothing donations, and monitor their physical and mental condition. Where necessary, we also help them access healthcare and social services, provide advice, assist in solving everyday life problems, and try to help manage conflict situations.
Our tasks also include mapping support systems, finding and strengthening family relationships, and identifying the locations of people living without shelter who need help, using the social map. During crisis periods, we cover the area more intensively through field visits and maintain contact not only with homeless people living on the streets, but also with all clients who may become victims of extreme weather conditions. These individuals, families and couples living together are in a particularly vulnerable situation: they may be evicted at any time, and properties, buildings or shacks that are often unsuitable for housing and lack electricity, heating or water may become life-threatening at any time.
Tasks of the Street Outreach Service:
- identifying and reaching out to homeless people staying in the municipality, and establishing contact with them,
- developing contact and using supportive conversations,
- helping people in need access the appropriate institution,
- reducing and solving everyday life problems arising from street homelessness, and supporting survival,
- helping the people in our care solve their housing problems,
- daily monitoring of the physical and mental health of homeless people who live habitually on the streets,
- providing information and assistance, and supporting administrative procedures,
- providing mental health, life management and legal counselling,
- helping people access various services, including healthcare, social services, cultural services, public administration and employment services,
- managing and resolving crisis and conflict situations,
- distributing donations, including food and clothing.
Increased attention during crisis periods:
- In winter: distribution of hot meals and hot tea, provision of warm clothing, blankets and emergency medicines
- In summer: distribution of food and cooling drinking water, and provision of light clothing
How to use the service:
Based on a report or notification, any institution, organisation or private individual may share their observations or request help. The service is voluntary and free of charge.
Service area:
Érd, Tárnok, Diósd