On this edition of Century: Housing First.
People who use drugs face persistent barriers to housing, decent work, healthcare and safety. Reintegration and rehabilitation programs are usually tied to abstinence so they exclude people who aren’t yet ready or don’t want to stop using drugs. Yet the evidence shows that inclusion increases options for people to gain control over their lives, and it’s most effective when it is low-threshold, rights-based, and built on harm reduction, peer involvement, and practical supports. Cities and nonprofits around the globe are demonstrating what this looks like in practice. The European Union Drugs Agency held a webinar December 3rd to explore and discuss housing first and employment first strategies.
On this week’s show we hear presentations by two of the panelists on that webinar: Cristiana Merendeiro, a neuropsychologist and Project Manager at CRESCER, and Lewis Boddy, Senior Development Officer, Employability, with the Scottish Drugs Forum.
- KBOO