ABOUT US:
É UM CONGRESSO
Following the celebration of CRESCER’s 22nd anniversary and the 10th anniversary of the É UMA CASA, Lisboa Housing First project, we organised the first É UM CONGRESSO, Housing First & Harm Reduction, in November 2023. The event took place at Nova SBE in Carcavelos and was preceded by field visits, during which participants had the opportunity to learn about CRESCER’s various projects.
We hosted over a hundred speakers from around the world, who addressed topics such as the Housing First model, risk reduction, future policies, corporate social responsibility, prevention, peer work, street teams, and more. Additionally, more than three hundred participants attended the two-day Congress, including representatives from civil society, social solidarity organisations, policymakers, companies, activists, and students. All this was made possible thanks to the support of numerous sponsors, including Cofidis, Fundação Ageas, Galp, Makro, Nova SBE, The Hotel, El Corte Inglés, Heritage Hotels, Pestana, and others.
We now intend to repeat this Congress every two years, with the next one scheduled for November 5th, 6th and 7th 2025, at Calouste Gulbenkian Foudation.
Founded in 2001, CRESCER seeks to reach out to those in a vulnerable situation by promoting health, risk reduction and the inclusion of all, through outreach projects.
Over the last 24 years we have come a long way by getting involved in multiple projects that impact around 2,000 people a year:
É UMA CASA, Lisboa Housing First...
What began as a pilot project with an initial number of 7 houses within a specific area of Lisbon, has since grown to encompass 140 houses all over the city! The success of the project has not only allowed us to have a significant impact on the lives of those experiencing chronic homelessness, but has also been instrumental in shaping broader policies, as it became an integral part of the city’s municipal plan and the national strategy to end homelessness.
Outreach Teams...
… Following the Harm Reduction philosophy, our four Outreach Teams are actively engaged in the city of Lisbon and its outskirts, working closely with the most vulnerable populations. Our approach encompasses activities such as offering psychosocial and psychological support, distributing and exchanging material for consumption, medical and nursing care, education and awareness-raising about lower-risk consumption practices, facilitating referrals to health and social services, among others.
Espaço Ímpar, Drop-In…
A response developed in a facility open to the community, providing a range of services to those experiencing homelessness. It allows people to access a space that simultaneously meets their most basic needs (food, hygiene, clothing, internet access), promotes access to health and social services, and encourages their role as active citizens (job seeking, social voice, and the promotion of their rights and duties).
Municipal Employment and Autonomy Unit...
This project aims to integrate individuals experiencing homelessness who are working or undergoing paid training into housing. It promotes the autonomy of integrated individuals and ensures their transition to independent housing alternatives through support from a technical team over a period of 6 months.
Municipal Prevention and Autonomy Unit…
This project provides housing stability to individuals who recently fell into homelessness. It promotes the autonomy of integrated individuals and ensures their transition to independent housing alternatives through support from a technical team over a period of 6 months.
É UMA VIDA...
Following on from our work with vulnerable populations, we have embraced a new cause through the Municipal Program for Welcoming Refugees to the City of Lisbon. Created in 2016, the project aims to support the integration of asylum seekers and refugees into our community, based on a close and continuous relationship, by promoting their learning, training and empowerment. Our services cover a wide range of activities, including finding and renting a home, regular residential visits, personalized support, document assistance, guidance on household management, life project planning, facilitating education and training opportunities, access to healthcare, cultural mediation, among others.
No Border...
Complementing É UMA VIDA, this project aims to create an integrated support structure for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees by offering services and support tailored to their needs. The range of services includes medical, psychological and social assistance, translation services, language training, legal support and information and awareness-raising activities for local communities.
YalaLearn...
Created in 2022, this project aims to respond to the pressing needs we have identified in the integration of migrants, asylum seekers and refugees into the community. The project seeks to promote the social and professional inclusion of these populations, offering individualized support in social and employability aspects, including literacy and Portuguese language courses.
Porta Aberta...
Based on the principles of the Supported Employment Methodology and Risk Reduction, this project is designed to provide employability support to people in vulnerable situations.
Restaurants and Catering...
Because we see employability as a path to inclusion, we train and employ people experiencing homelessness in our five restaurants (É UM RESTAURANTE, É UMA MESA, É UMA ESPLANADA, É UM ALMOÇO (Ageas) and É UMA COPA (Cofidis)) and Catering Service, providing them with the skills and tools necessary for a successful integration into the job market and the community.
É UM ENCONTRO...
A community-based food festival that brings together national and international chefs in the municipality of Amadora to showcase the local gastronomic offer, encourage the sharing and exchange of ideas through cooking and promote dialogue on interculturality.
POWGEN…
An international project aimed at facilitating the labour integration of Third-Country Nationals (TCNs) by offering certified training in the fields of renovation and renewable energy, as well as job-matching services between trainees and companies.
CONTACT US VIA EMAIL [email protected]