Liz Littler, Service Manager at the Housing First Consortium Glasgow, Allison Symonds, Social Worker and Peer Aid at Un Chez Soi d’Abord and Riikka Tuomi, Peer Support Worker and Mentor at Vva ry – No Fixed Abode, discussed the role of peer work in Housing First as well as sharing some insights into the challenges and experiences of peer workers. Session hosted by Samara Jones, Programme Coordinator at the Housing First Europe Hub, and moderated by Niall Keane, Services Manager at Focus Ireland.
This is the second in a series of webinars on Housing First practice in Europe, and is ideal for practitioners of all levels, including frontline workers, managers and trainers.
If you have an interest in exploring a particular area of Housing First practice in a future webinar, please contact our Hub Coordinator, Taina Hytönen: taina.hytonen@ysaatio.fi
Watch the recording:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FTchXBU3gE[/embedyt]
Presentations:
- Managing Peers in a Housing First Service – Liz Littler
- Peer Aid -Allison Symonds
- Advocating for homeless people through peer work in Finland – Riikka Tuomi
Liz Littler – Service Manager at the Housing First Consortium Glasgow
Liz has worked in the homelessness sector for 20 years. 18 of these years have been with the 3rd sector in Glasgow.
Housing First has been Liz’s passion since 2013 and she joined Turning Point Scotland with the aim of bringing that passion to a role in which she could make a real difference. Liz is proud to have been part of developing the pioneering Housing First service in Glasgow, and has also been an active member of the Housing First Europe Hub since its inception. Liz currently manages the Housing First Consortium Glasgow service which is part of the “Pathfinder” project in Scotland.
Riikka Tuomi – Peer Support Worker and Mentor at Vva ry – No Fixed Abode
Riikka is a trained peer support worker and mentor currently working in VVAry-No Fixed Abode. VVAry is an NGO originally founded by people with experience of homelessness. VVAry has been represented in the Steering Group of the recent national programmes to reduce homelessness in Finland. The organisation has also implemented several development projects in Housing First.
Allison Symonds – Clinical Social Worker and Peer Aid at Un Chez Soi d’Abord
Allison is currently a Peer Aid at Un Chez Soi d’Abord, Paris, where she has worked since in 2013, soon after its founding, as a specialist in recovery treatment for homeless clients.Allison has also worked as a Clinical Social Worker in both the USA and France the following capacities: therapeutic counsellor for patients at risk and liaison with physicians and psychiatrists and socio-psychological admissions evaluator in hospital emergency services and a number of organisations and institutions.
In addition to her professional work, Allison has shared her experience and expertise as a volunteer with Clubhouse France, Secours Catholiques and the American Aid Society in Paris, France. She was also a participant in Housing First’s initial European Hub training programme.
Niall Keane – Services Manager at Focus Ireland
Niall Keane has worked in the NGO sector for the past 22 years. For the past 14 years he has worked in Focus Ireland as a Project Leader, Service Manager and Acting Director of Service. During this time, he has managed a wide range of services including Young People Services, Aftercare, Housing and Education services. He currently manages one of Focus Irelands emergency residential units as well as leading Focus Ireland’s service strategy and digital transformation project.