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Interact Project

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Interact Project

The approved budget of the project is of 4.330.843,19 euro. Project duration: 1 October 2024 - 30 September 2027 (36 months).

Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union. Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union. It is being implemented by Syndesmos Melon Gynaikeion Somateion Irakleioy Kai Nomoy Irakleioy - UWAH (Greece) in partnership with KRITI - RoC (Greece), Dimos Palaio Faliro - MPF- (Greece), Haskoli Islands - UI (Iceland), Rotin felagasamtok - ROTIN - (Iceland), Associazione Mondodonna Onlus - MD (Italy), ASP Citta di Bologna (Italy), Cooperativa Sociale Dolce Societa (Italy), Hochschule Fur Technik Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig (HTWK LEIPZIG) (Germany), Ares do Pinhal Associação de Recuperação de Toxicodependentes - ADP (Portugal), Direcția de Asistență Socială și Medicală (Romania). The project's objectives encompass empowering marginalised women to find a way out of homelessness, reinforcing the efficiency of interventions provided, influencing policy changes towards gender-sensitive and inclusive strategies, integrating trauma-informed care and fostering cross-country collaboration. This innovative project emerges from a profound understanding of the intricate challenges faced by homeless women, acknowledging the multifaceted nature of their vulnerabilities, including intimate partner violence (IPV), problematic substance use (PSU), and mental health struggles. Recognizing the shortcomings of traditional interventions, the project introduces a holistic and intersectional approach, challenging siloed methods prevalent in addressing homelessness. Through a transnational consortium comprising organizations from Greece, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Iceland and
Romania, the project utilizes a comprehensive methodology, to address the underlying issues of homelessness and offer a sustainable solution to homelessness for women. Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union.

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The European Commission. Neither the European Union nor The European Commission can be held responsible for them.”

01/10/2026

🌿 Colours and Stories – a safe space for creativity, connection and well-being within the INTERACT pilot in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

As part of the pilot implementation of the INTERACT Model in Cluj-Napoca, a group of women participating in the project joined “Colours and Stories”, an outdoor activity organised by the DASM team at the “Romulus Vuia” National Ethnographic Park. The activity was organised in response to the women’s wish to have more activities in a safe outdoor setting. After a previous creative activity in the same location was very well received, this new session offered a different but equally relaxed and creative experience, shaped around their expressed preferences.

🎨 The women chose and coloured mandalas in their own way, using the colours they preferred and working at their own pace. The activity encouraged focus and concentration, and the women became deeply engaged in the creative process, creating beautiful and highly individual mandalas. Participation was voluntary and the atmosphere was non-judgmental, with discussions around well-being, safety, personal strengths, boundaries and supportive relationships.

The participants clearly enjoyed the afternoon and came forward with new ideas for future activities, showing how important it is not only to organise activities for women, but to shape them with women, based on what they value and enjoy.

✨ The afternoon ended with smiles, new ideas and a strong sense of connection. Within the INTERACT pilot in Cluj-Napoca, these moments are a reminder of how important it is to create safe spaces together with women, to listen to their voices and to let their strengths, preferences and choices help shape what comes next.

29/09/2026

Professionals day on safer housing in Leipzig

🏠 Thinking domestic violence and housing together. Safety. Cooperation. Now. ✨

The INTERACT team from HTWK Leipzig took part in the symposium “Thinking domestic violence and housing together - Identifying intersections, strengthening cooperation”, organised by the Saxon State Association for Violence-Free Living (LAG gewaltfreies Zuhause) on 10 September 2026 in Dresden.

The event brought together local authorities, political representatives, professionals from domestic violence protection and emergency housing, social work students and members of the public to discuss how protection against domestic violence and housing provision can be better coordinated. A key focus was on improving collaboration between municipalities, support services and housing providers for women affected by violence, including those experiencing hidden homelessness.

As part of the programme, INTERACT was featured in an interview highlighting the project’s intersectional approach to combating homelessness among women. Friederike Frieler and colleagues presented insights from the pilot implementation in Leipzig, where the local partner Alternative I – Zentrum für Drogenhilfe e.V. works closely with the team to strengthen support pathways for women at the interface of violence protection and housing.

💬 The symposium created space for in-depth professional exchange and joint problem-solving across support systems. One clear message emerged: safe housing is an indispensable part of protection from violence.

👏 Many thanks to all speakers, contributors and participants for their valuable input, open conversations and committed exchange!
🤝 We are taking many impulses back into our work and look forward to continuing to collaborate so that women affected by domestic violence and (hidden) homelessness gain access to safe housing.

23/09/2026

🏠 No Peace with Homelessness. Dignity for All. ✨

The Leipzig team from the INTERACT project took part in this year’s nationwide Day of Action on Homelessness and Housing, organised by the Federal Association for Homeless Aid (BAG-W).

In Leipzig, the local Right to Housing Working Group hosted the Day of the Homeless under the slogan “No Peace with Homelessness.”

On 11 September 2026, at Richard-Wagner-Platz, Friederike Frieler and Stella Rüger from HTWK Leipzig were present at a joint booth with our local pilot implementation partner, Caritasverband e.V. / Bahnhofsmission. Through a poster and direct conversations, they presented the INTERACT project and its pilot intervention tailored to homeless women in Leipzig.

The main objective was to inform the general public, local stakeholders and people with lived experience about the project’s goals and the special services being developed for homeless women within Leipzig’s support system.

Around 25 organisations, services and projects from Leipzig took part in the event, alongside representatives of the City of Leipzig and many service users.

👏 Special thanks to everyone who contributed to the event!

🤝 Together, we stand for the right to housing and dignity for all!

18/09/2026

On 14–15 September 2026, DASM Cluj-Napoca hosted an exchange of experience with social services directors representing 10 regions of Slovenia, offering a valuable opportunity to present and discuss the institutional context and social services of Romania and Slovenia, the social programs of DASM, INTERACT project and its Model of Intervention beyond the project consortium countries.

The exchange was also attended by Deputy Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Mrs. Emese Olah- Grecoiu, DASM Deputy Executive Director, Mrs. Arianda Popa and representatives of key DASM departments relevant to the implementation of INTERACT, reinforcing the institutional and cross-sector dimension of the discussions.

The discussion covered the project’s funding, objectives, target groups, partnership, expected results and, in particular, the approach developed through INTERACT for supporting women experiencing homelessness, precarious housing and multiple vulnerabilities.

A central focus was the INTERACT Model of Intervention, built around gender-responsive, human rights based, intersectional, trauma-informed, harm reduction and low-threshold, collaborative, adaptive and evidence-informed approaches.

The INTERACT Model generated strong interest among the Slovenian participants, opening a valuable discussion on the relevance of its principles and standards in different service contexts, including the Slovenian one.

The exchange provided a valuable space for mutual learning and reflection on the flexibility, transferability and practical relevance of the INTERACT Model in different national and institutional settings.

Such exchanges create valuable opportunities to share the INTERACT approach, support mutual learning and explore its relevance in different service contexts.

31/08/2026

🌿 INTERACT Activities in Romania: a safe space for connection, creativity and shared stories

As part of the implementation of the INTERACT Pilot Model in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, women participating in the project took part in a special outdoor activity organised at the “Romulus Vuia” National Ethnographic Park.

The activity was designed in response to the women’s own wishes and preferences, who had expressed their interest in spending more time outdoors and taking part in creative and relaxing activities outside the usual institutional setting. The day included an outdoor picnic, offering participants the opportunity to spend several hours together in a safe, peaceful and welcoming environment, where women could also bring their children.

A traditional sewing workshop was facilitated by representatives of the Ethnographic Museum of Transylvania, giving participants the opportunity to discover elements of local traditions and create their own handmade bookmarks. The workshop was very well received, with the women actively engaging in the activity and enjoying both the creative process and the objects they made.

Another special moment was the “Healing Stories” activity, facilitated by Mrs. Carmen Ciornei, thematic expert of the Romanian INTERACT team. The women were invited to participate only to the extent to which they felt comfortable. Several of them spontaneously chose to share their own “true stories” and lived experiences, in an atmosphere based on listening, respect and non-judgement. This approach reflects one of the core principles of Trauma-Informed Care: creating a physically and emotionally safe environment, respecting personal boundaries, choice and individual pace, while allowing women to remain in control of what they wish to share.

During the activity, Mr. Nicholas Spetsidis, the INTERACT project coordinator in Greece (Union of Women Associations of Heraklion Prefecture), also joined. His visit provided an opportunity to observe first-hand how the INTERACT approach is being translated into practice in Cluj-Napoca and how the women engage with the activities developed as part of the local implementation. His presence remained discreet and non-intrusive, allowing the group dynamics to unfold naturally. It also created space for informal exchanges with the local project teams and with those participants who chose to interact, in a respectful manner fully aligned with the safe and women-centred environment promoted by INTERACT. He also exchanged views with members of the local implementation teams from DASM Cluj-Napoca and Prison Fellowship Romania – Cluj Branch, reflecting on how the INTERACT Model is working in practice, how women are responding to the approach, and the extent to which the activities and support provided are relevant and appropriate to their needs.The discussions offered an important opportunity to reflect on the implementation of the model based on the direct experience of professionals working with the women and on the feedback and reactions of the participants.

💜 The very positive response to the outdoor format, the sewing workshop and the “Healing Stories” session once again highlighted the importance of creating activities together with women, based on their expressed needs and preferences. Through safe spaces, meaningful participation, creativity, choice and respectful relationships, INTERACT project aims to support forms of intervention that are more inclusive, gender-responsive and truly adapted to the realities of women experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

05/08/2026

🟣 INTERACT Activities in Cluj-Napoca: Gender-Responsive Support for Women Experiencing Homelessness and Intimate Partner Violence

As part of the implementation of the INTERACT Pilot Model in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, a dedicated information and discussion session was organised at the end of July 2026 by the Interact team (Romania) with women participating in the project, focusing on intimate partner violence, available support services and practical safety measures.

The session was facilitated by Raluca Farcaș, psychologist at the Centre for preventing and combating violence in families (The Social and Medical Services Directorate - DASM, Cluj-Napoca). It brought together women with lived experience supported by the Emergency Social Centre, Prison Fellowship Romania - Cluj Branch and the Social Protection Department of DASM.

Participants received information on forms of intimate partner violence, confidentiality, reporting and complaint mechanisms, specialised support services and personal safety measures. Relevant information materials and the Bright Sky mobile application were also presented.

The meeting created a safe space for women with lived experience to express their concerns, needs and perspectives, including those arising from their specific life situations and experiences of violence, homelessness and insecurity. Their contributions support a better understanding of the barriers they face and help ensure that the support offered within the pilot implementation is gender-responsive and relevant to their lived realities.

💜 By placing women’s lived experiences and expressed needs at the centre of the intervention, INTERACT supports the development of safer, more coordinated and more responsive pathways for women experiencing homelessness, intimate partner violence and other intersecting vulnerabilities.

INTERACT - Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women is co-funded by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme.

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The European Commission. Neither the European Union nor The European Commission can be held responsible for them.”

03/08/2026

✨ Implementation of the INTERACT Model in Greece: Training on the Local Protocol in Chania

On July 28, 2026, the INTERACT team from the Region of Crete, Greece, conducted a training session in Chania for the partners involved in implementing the local Protocol, “Gender-Responsive Coordinated Pathways for Women Experiencing Homelessness in Crete.”
🔹 The first part of the training familiarised participants with the INTERACT Standards and revisited the core principles of Trauma-Informed Care and Harm Reduction in relation with women experiencing homelessness.
🔹 The second part focused on the presentation of the tools that will be used in the local implementation. Emphasis was placed on the practical application of the tools, the intervention methodology and the subsequent steps of implementation.

Particular attention was given to the questions and concerns raised by the professionals. Their feedback will be taken into consideration during the implementation of the Protocol.

The training brought together social workers and psychologists from social services across the Municipality of Chania, specifically from the Department of Social Policy and Equality.
The participating services included:
▪️ the Shelter for Women Victims of Violence and their Children;
▪️ the Open Care Centre for the Elderly;
▪️ the Help at Home Programme;
▪️ the Community Centre;
▪️ the Community Centre – Roma Annex, including social inclusion services and migrant integration centres.

🔹 The session supported a shared understanding of the INTERACT Standards, the Protocol tools and the practical steps required for their implementation in Crete.

Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union.

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The European Commission. Neither the European Union nor The European Commission can be held responsible for them.”

29/07/2026

✨ Implementation of the INTERACT Model in Portugal: First Training Session Launched

As part of the implementation of the INTERACT Model in Portugal, the first in a series of training sessions has been launched for the support teams working at CAEM - the Municipal Emergency Shelter in Lisbon.

Co-funded by the European Union through the INTERACT Project, the training programme will continue through monthly sessions until March 2027. It aims to strengthen professionals’ knowledge and practical skills in key areas such as gender-responsive approaches, gender-based violence, harm reduction, physical and mental health, and the systemic barriers faced by women experiencing homelessness.

Through this initiative, INTERACT supports the development of more informed, coordinated and responsive services, better adapted to the complex and intersecting needs of women experiencing homelessness.

Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union.
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The European Commission. Neither the European Union nor The European Commission can be held responsible for them.”

24/07/2026

✨ Presentation of the INTERACT Project at Romania’s National Social Work Conference

From 9 to 11 July 2026, INTERACT project was presented at Romania’s National Social Work Conference, organised by the Romanian Association of Social Workers (ASproAS) and the Centre for Training and Evaluation in Social Work (CFCECAS), and hosted by the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Bucharest.

The conference brought together approximately 70 participants with diverse levels of experience and professional responsibility, including recent graduates, social workers, psychologists, service coordinators and managers, representatives of local public authorities and central government institutions, as well as highly experienced directors from the National Agency for Equal Opportunities between Women and Men and the National Authority for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This diversity created an important space for dialogue between frontline professional experience, the priorities of professional organisations, and institutional perspectives on the development of social services and social policies.

Mrs Carmen Ciornei attended the conference on behalf of Directia de Asistenta Sociala si Medicala, Cluj-Napoca (DASM) and presented INTERACT during the “Projects That Inspire” session as a coordinated integrated intervention for women experiencing homelessness which addresses the many challenges they face - from gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence and substance use to mental health struggles.

🔹 The presentation focused on the need to connect support across housing, healthcare, mental health, substance use and harm reduction, social work and services for survivors of gender-based violence. It highlighted that women experiencing homelessness often face multiple and intersecting vulnerabilities that cannot be addressed effectively through isolated or fragmented services.

🔹 During the presentation and the wider conference discussions, INTERACT’s person-centred, trauma-informed, gender-responsive and harm reduction-based approach was connected to the broader need for safe and responsive social services, continuity of support, effective case coordination and stronger collaboration between professionals and institutions. The exchanges also highlighted the importance of professional capacity-building, coherent policies, stable institutional mechanisms, predictable funding, and the use of frontline experience to inform public policy.

🔹Overall, the conference provided an important opportunity to present and promote INTERACT within a wider discussion on the quality of social services, the role of social service professionals, and their capacity to contribute to policy development.

🔹The conference confirmed that effective social intervention requires more than a single, time-limited service. It requires coordinated services, well-trained professionals, responsive institutions, resources allocated according to actual needs and policies flexible enough to reflect each person’s real-life pathway beyond administrative and institutional boundaries.

🔹Presenting INTERACT Project in this professional setting created a valuable opportunity to share its approach, exchange perspectives and contribute to the wider reflection on how social services can respond more effectively to complex and interconnected needs.

🙏 We extend our sincere thanks to the organisers and hosts for creating this valuable space for professional exchange, to Mrs Carmen Ciornei for representing DASM and presenting INTERACT Project, and to all participants for their interest, engagement and thoughtful contributions.

Intersectional Approach to Combating Homelessness for Women (INTERACT) is a project which is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) Programme of the European Union.

“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or The European Commission. Neither the European Union nor The European Commission can be held responsible for them.”

10/07/2026

📰 The INTERACT Project Newsletter #1 is now available!

🔎 This edition presents some of the project’s key developments in strengthening responses to women’s homelessness across Europe. INTERACT promotes a gender-responsive and human rights-based approach, recognising women’s homelessness as an issue linked to fundamental human rights, social justice and collective responsibility.
🧩 It highlights the INTERACT National Report, which brings together findings from Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal and Romania on legal and policy frameworks, data gaps and hidden homelessness, service provision, system challenges and cross-sector coordination.
🧩 The newsletter also introduces the development of the INTERACT Pilot Model of Intervention, guided by four core principles: gender responsiveness, intersectionality, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction and low-threshold approaches. The Model is designed to support services in adapting interventions, addressing ethical challenges and improving access to housing, health and social support.
🧩 It also outlines the next phase of the project: pilot implementation in selected local contexts, identifying necessary adaptations, strengthening organisational capacity and documenting learning for future refinement and scaling.
➡️ Follow the project’s journey so far and discover the next steps towards pilot implementation of the INTERACT Model of Intervention!

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