The action combats the exclusion of mentally disabled and psychic sick persons; they are employed for one year in the field of gastronomy; during this year they are offered qualification in the field of gastronomy, they receive care and assistance of the key actors to improve their personal situation. After that time they should be stable enough to return to the first labour market.

The project was initiated by the association pro mente on the model of a coffeehouse in the psychiatric hospital Baumgartner Höhe in Vienna which was run by and for patients. It was the idea of the association to do this in a more professional way. In addition it became necessary to help former patients to find a job.

In 1994, the project was planned and financial assistance was found (Labour Market Service, AMS and the Federal Service for the Handicapped, BSB), the coffeehouse was opened in June 1995. One difficulty in the beginning was the practical realisation of this theoretically planned project. Furthermore it was (and still is) difficult to select the transit workers (because of the danger of crisis and reversion). In 1996 the reduction of the budget by the AMS caused financial difficulties.

Main objectives of the project are the stabilization of the personality of the transit workers, enabling them an independent life. Integration measures are fixed term employment as cooks or as waiters, education and qualification in this field, psychological assistance and support (once a week) on the bases of an anamnesis, preparing them for psychotherapy.

The projects understands itself as a transition into so-called normal life. Help is provided in legal, financial and social matters as necessary. The rate of people in insertion is between 60 and 65 %. A study of the Labour Market Service showed that out of this insertion number many of the transit worker find work in the area of gastronomy or related fields and are able to maintain their job.

Social and Indirect Effects
The social effects of the initiative are that it helps to reduce prejudices against people with psychic handicaps. Cafe MAX is a place where so called normal people get in touch with psychically disabled persons. It is a great advantage that this contact is established within a restricted and protected area. A similar project (the Seidelbräu) with the same target group is run in Upper Austria

Assessment-Innovation-transferability
The project has to deliver an annual report to the Labour Market Service for evaluation. The innovative aspect can be seen in the fact that the project proved it possible to run a coffeehouse with this target group of exluded persons. In general, the project is transferable into other regions and branches. In working with this special target group it is of importance, that the working stress for the personnel is limited. As (seasonal) job-changes are common in the field of gastronomy , qualified transit-workers do find a job in this sector.

Prospects
Plans are the modification of the lounge for the personnel and the raise of the number of transit-workers. The catering service will be developed and strengthened, as it is necessary to increase the turnover.

Café Restaurant MAX
Ms. Hermine Jäger (Manager, psychological support), tel. +43 1 512 47 13

01/06/1995

case

Urban Policy

Social inclusion & integration