CIVIL SOCIETY: 269 PRACTICES
Steps is a Nonprofit Community based Initiative, from people for people. Active citizens, scientists and volunteers, have been supporting people on the street situation or emergency since 2 years.
Read more: https://steps.org.gr/
STEPS is a community based organization that offers services to homeless people and on the street (homeless, drug users, migrants, refugees, etc.) providing them opportunities to street connected people so as for them to be independent. We approach without discrimination vulnerable groups of people who experience social exclusion.
Through our constant presence on the streets of the city, observation and active hearing, we build relationships of trust with street connected people. Based in the center of Athens, STEPS carries out two key actions - "One Stop" and "Street Embrace".
One Stop is the basic Steps' Project, held twice a week at the Syn-Athena. There, we provide basic necessities (clothes, drinks, food) as well as services (first aid, psychological support, social benefits consultancy and advice, clothes washing, entertainment, workshop arts, etc.) through collaboration to organizations and anyone who wants to attend.
Motivated by the success and continued development of One Stop project, we have been convinced that it can develop further. In order to make this possible, our short-term goal for One Stop project is for it to move in its own space/place/premises which will allow it to operate on a daily basis, provide more services and increase its social impact.
The new placement will allow One Stop to operate in the form of a community center which will be able to address not only Street Connected People but also residents of the neighborhood. By adding new services such as language lessons, creativity games, yoga lessons etc... we aim to attract members of the neighborhood to interact with us, become members of the community and offer their financial support through a “pay as you feel” system.
The whole key affected and most vulnerable population, such as homeless, unemployed that live below the poverty line, drug or alcohol addicted, immigrants, refugees, human trafficking victims, prostitutes, sex workers, lgbtqi+ (transgender people) community, disabled people, unaccompanied minors, working children, etc.
2016-until now
One Stop is a small celebration of solidarity, with the goal to give some happiness to people that want to continue to live with decency.
Every Wednesday and Sunday afternoon at synAthina, we create a small corner open to anyone that wants to have access to free services and activities that should be given to everyone. First aid, laundry, showers, haircuts, warm food, music, games with the kids, legal and social wefare benefits' advisory, supply of important information about human rights, shape the effort of this initiative to bring people closer.
Our certified paramedics team takes care of all incidents that need direct attention (cleaning and banding wounds, deciding wether the patient needs to be treated in a hospital, consultation on matters about personal hygiene). We cook on the street all together for anyone that needs a warm, homemade plate of food. It is composed of a specialized team from Steps that has the goal to note all incidents that have to do with the violation of global human rights, but also to action them with the appropriate moves (inform, denounce, publicize, etc).
Through drawing and playing, our educators give the children the opportunity to pass their time creatively, while at the same time, they communicate with the parents about issues that might concern them.
During each “One Stop” about 300 people receive services (twice a week, approximately 2000 people monthly).
The cost has been computed at 0,70 €/person which means more or less, 200€ per One Stop.
Until now, the costs of the project are covered by self-funding from Steps’ members, fundraising and/or private donations or sub-supported programs from other initiatives.
More than 80,000 food portions and beverages in our two years active presence in the field, over 600 donated blankets distributed to homeless, more than 400 linkages to clinical and psychosocial services, 2000 and more laundry washing at ITHACA mobile laundry, 5500 hours of Street Embrace, 14 housing cases and more than 40 volunteers who participated in our actions ...
But the highest and incalculable of all, inclusion of all of us in a common truth, that of humanity.
Syn-Athina, Varvakeios Market, Athens.
STEPS and its' both projects, "One Stop" and "Street Embrace", are being conducted in collaboration with field teams such as Ithaca Laundry, ECHO Refugee Library, Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Doc Mobile and volunteer civilians.
For the first time in this city, Social and Community based Organisations, joined their forces with the only thought of all these People experiencing the injustice social exclusion.
STEPS projects include volunteers and friends of the Organization. Employees and paid stuff are not yet in the Organization.
So, Founder and Coordinator, Marketing Director & Founding Member, Fundraising Managers, Streetworkers, Photographers and Academic Associates, a total of 15 volunteers, we engage In rotation in actions or run for financial funds to support our actions.
Moreover, a multitude of volunteers help every time in every action.
The promotion of Our services in many events, social actions, the raising of awareness for vulnerable social groups, the mobilization of public and private initiatives and the involvement of the Organization in many social networks and the invitation we received from Institutions, Organizations Abroad and Greece for the Best Practice implemented through the case studies of Steps itself and its projects.
