EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - RAUXA: Chronic homeless

RAUXA: Integral treatment of the chronic homeless - Barcelona, ES

Introduction

The programme promotes social inclusion of the homeless through alcoholism rehabilitation.

Problem

The homeless population is hard to know and measure because of their high mobility. There are around 4.000 people living in the streets of Madrid and Barcelona. In 1988-89 a majority of the homeless were men from 45 to 50 years old, suffering from alcoholism.

Description

The Rauxa Association intends to face the situation of homeless people, particularly alcoholics, in the city of Barcelona. It develops a programme for the integral treatment of alcoholism, with diverse phases to achieve the social inclusion of this collective.

The objectives of the programme are:

Relieve the situation of the homeless, and in particular of alcoholics.
Develop a project of treatment of alcoholism and other addictions.
Achieve full social rehabilitation, eliminating drug addictions and compulsive behaviours.

Approach

The programme contemplates an integral treatment of alcoholism, using diverse strategies in each step that are developed successively:

In a van, motivation strategies, in which the presence of a rehabilitated alcoholic is essential.
In the therapy community, diverse strategies are applied through individual and group therapy.
In flats, as well as in labour insertion, strategies of problem facing and solving.

Results

810 people have been helped.
310 people have begun an alcoholism rehabilitation treatment.
An association of rehabilitated alcoholics has been created.
A special work centre has been created: La Terraseta Restaurant.
Two labour cooperatives have been created,

Contact info

Rauxa Association
Dr. Rizal, 14 Bajos
08006 Barcelona
Spain
Phone: +34 934156298
Fax: +34 932372086
asrauxa@rauxa.org

Project start date

29/12/2006

Integral treatment of the chronic homeless (PDF, 99 KB) Español

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services