Participation in Denmark

1
Participation in Denmark
2
The law of social services

• The law of social services, section 110
• There must be an established user democracy at
  any shelter operated under section 110
• Either by regular plenary meetings with the users
  or
• The users form a user council, that can request
  meetings with the management, when the conditions
  for the users need to be negotiated

3
SANDs History

• A new Law of Social Services was the basis for
  establishing SAND
• It started with user councils at different
  shelters
• Over the years more user councils were created,
  leading up to the formation of a national
  organisation
• SAND kept growing, and 7 years ago, a secretariat
  was established, at present with 5 employees
• The national organisation is funded by The
  Ministry of Internal- and Social Affairs, and the
  local SAND committees are funded by the local
  authorities.

4
SANDs organisation
5
How does SAND work to promote user involvement?

• Regular visits to shelters and assistance in the
  establishing of user councils
• Assisting the local SAND committees in the larger
  cities of Denmark
• Project days at the shelters, where
  representatives from SAND inform about SAND,
  legal rules for staying at a shelter, debt
  consolidation etc.
• Publish a monthly newsletter which is sent to
  all inhabitants of shelters in Denmark
• Helping homeless to manage their daily life
• Homeless Day (17/10) in the centre of Copenhagen

6
How does SAND work to promote user involvement?

• Legal courses for the homeless. Rules and
  regulations about being homeless.
• Introduction courses New members Homeless -
  learn about SAND, the organisation, social
  legislation, negotiating technique, team building
  etc.,
• Social assessor courses A course for homeless
  people who want to help other homeless people
  find their way through the administrative
  jungle
• Social manager courses Teaching participants to
  assist others with debt consolidation
• Project days SANDs annual meeting. In 2009 we
  discussed The Plan for the Homeless. Approx. 60
  participants from both service user groups and
  representatives from the relevant authorities

7
SAND is involved in politics

• On a political scale, we try to influence by
• Participating actively in the local
  implementation of The Plan for the Homeless
• Working to establish local councils for socially
  marginalized people in every county council in
  Denmark
• Making the homeless problem more visible to the
  public and the politicians by being active in the
  public debate

8
Difficulties and questions

• The homeless are hard to find and hard to
  organize
• Drugs
• Poor economy
• Psychological problems
• Social problems
• Financial and professional support is necessary
  to keep the organisation going
• The fine balance between the professionals and
  the homeless in SAND
• Lack of money
• Can you represent the homeless when you are no
  longer homeless?