Hopeful results with breakthrough method in Heerlen-North
The municipality of Heerlen leads the European project Citicess. We help families facing many problems thoroughly with a new approach, the so-called "breakthrough method. In Heerlen, this has led to hopeful results so far. For six families, we have already achieved nine breakthroughs. Heerlen cooperates in the project with seven other European cities, Sofia, Aarhus, Budapest, Ballyhoura, Pordenone, Galati and Zaragoza. The partner cities visited Heerlen to learn from the initial experiences and insights gained in Heerlen.
Last October, the new European pilot project Citicess started in Heerlen. For three years, we will start intensive help with family coaches for about 40 families from Heerlen-Noord with stalled assistance, according to this new breakthrough method. We are currently working with thirteen families. Every year more families are added. There are many problems in the participating households, such as addiction, debt, unemployment, domestic violence, mental health problems or criminality. Even after long-term help, the situation in the families did not improve. Therefore, we are now going to aan de slag met de new breakthrough method here.
Preventing social costs
A family coach takes families more by the hand. This social worker arranges things for the family that they cannot do themselves (anymore) and supervises the family intensively. They make breakthrough plans. Of the thirteen families we now help in Heerlen, we have already made breakthrough plans for eight. Breakthroughs have already been achieved for six families.
Breakthroughs achieved include finding new housing, preventing eviction, expediting social assistance, purchasing textbooks and providing temporary cabs to school. Through these actions we save large sums of money and prevent hundreds of thousands of dollars, on social costs. Currently, we have already prevented more than half a million in social costs.