Social services are being placed on a professional footing In Syunik region

People who are left without shelter due to difficult life circumstances, family problems, or emergency situations often need temporary accommodation. For this purpose, a shelter for homeless people is being constructed in Kapan and will soon be put into operation.

The Kapan Municipality received a grant of AMD 29 million under an EU-funded project, which was transferred to the municipality by People in Need, while an additional AMD 21.64 million was allocated by the Kapan Charity Foundation.

In a conversation with Armenpress, First Deputy Mayor of Kapan, Gor Tadevosyan, noted that there was an opportunity to expand social services in Kapan through grants.

“In recent years, our experience has shown that there were cases when people, for various reasons, found themselves without shelter, and there was nowhere in the entire region where these people could be provided with temporary accommodation. Therefore, we decided to establish such a facility in Kapan. Since having such a centre had long been a goal for us, we were ready to make the necessary investments for its implementation. In this case, the Kapan Charity Foundation supported us, as this is a vital programme for our community,” said Tadevosyan.

He accompanied the Armenpress creative team to the construction site, presenting the near-final stage of the works and the future capacities of the facility.

The temporary shelter will operate under the Kapan community social support system, within the “Centre” Municipal Non-Commercial Organisation, which employs social service professionals. The shelter for homeless people will consist of six rooms, a kitchen, and a laundry facility. The centre will ensure appropriate sanitary and hygienic living conditions, while specialists will provide necessary psychological and social support on site.

It should be noted that within the framework of the “Partnership for Syunik: Enhanced Community-Based Social Services” project, attention is given not only to people in need of temporary accommodation, but also to older persons with special needs or disabilities who require permanent care.

Armenpress visited the small community home established in Artsvanik with EU funding. In an interview with us, Lyudmila Poghosyan, representative of the Mission Armenia and Director of the Small Home for People with Disabilities, said that the home has been operating since 25 December 2023.

The home currently accommodates 11 people, who are supported by nine staff members, including care workers, social workers and an activity coordinator. Following the completion of the EU grant, the home has received a grant from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

"Our goal is to create a family-like environment for people, strengthen their abilities, and help them learn to live independently. The residents are engaged in gardening, poultry farming and take part in various group activities.

The produce grown in the garden is used efficiently: some is dried, some is stored in freezers for the winter months, and organically grown food forms an important part of their daily diet.

It would be very positive to see more small community houses established, so that people with disabilities can live within their own communities while maintaining their social ties and familiar surroundings. There is a genuine need for such services.

People with disabilities should be prepared for a full, dignified and independent life. That is why we strive to improve their quality of life and support them in living as independently as possible," said Poghosyan.

She tells us that  the residents of the community small house need communication, care and human warmth. They have experienced difficult circumstances, but here they are treated like members of a family, and they genuinely feel at home.

"Everyone deserves to live with dignity, whether young or old. Society should be especially attentive to people from vulnerable groups. We regularly welcome visitors, including schoolchildren, university students and organised groups. All our events are held in a warm and engaging atmosphere. Our residents are delighted by these visits, as natural human interaction brings them happiness," Poghosyan said.

It is encouraging to note that the organisation and delivery of social services in Syunik region have now been placed on a professional footing, helping to improve the living conditions of homeless people and persons with special needs or disabilities.

The Partnerships for Syunik – Enhanced Community-Based Social Services project is implemented by People in Need within the framework of the European Union’s Resilient Syunik – Team Europe Initiative, in cooperation with the WINNET Goris Development Foundation and Armenian Caritas. This work has been made possible thanks to cooperation with civil society, Armenia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, the Syunik Regional Administration, local government bodies, and the social committees of all seven regional municipalities.

The Resilient Syunik – Team Europe Initiative is a joint programme involving the European Union, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, ten EU Member States (Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden), and Switzerland. This initiative promotes sustainable socio-economic development in the Syunik region.