Training
Organising training for a wide range of audiences
- May 07 2024
WEBINAR: Approaches to Managing Hoarding with Housing First Clients
Event time ( 16.00 – 17.30 CEST )
Register here
Train-the-Trainer (TtT) programme
Train-the-Trainer is an annual educational programme designed for trainers who wish to specialise in training on Housing First. The goal is to create a European pool of trainers who are experienced and knowledgeable about Housing First, and who will be able to conduct a variety of training modules on aspects of Housing First in countries across Europe, and beyond.
Each course brings together approximately 25 trainers from a number of European countries and beyond for three training sessions in different European cities over the course of a year.
The curriculum is based on the Housing First Europe Guide (which is now available in multiple languages here).
The call for application for the sixth Train-the-Trainer is now open!
Find out more about it here and register before the 15th of March here.
Training for cities
Cities play a crucial role in implementing the Housing First approach for addressing homelessness due to their unique position as hubs of resources, services, and governance. Housing First is a strategy that prioritizes providing stable and permanent housing to homeless individuals without preconditions, such as sobriety or participation in treatment programs.
Our pool of trainers can provide your city with expert guidance on how to develop and implement a Housing First programme, how the eight core-principles get applied, data collection and evaluation, etc.
To provide you with the best assistance, we invite you to email our Hub Coordinator Arturo Coego
Personalised training
If your organisation is interested in a specific topic on Housing First such as Housing First for Youth or Housing First and women, we can also design a flexible training programme adapted to your needs. Feel free to email our Hub Coordinator Arturo Coego
Other suggested topics:
- Implementing Housing First
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Client-Centered Approach
- Data Collection and Evaluation
- Community Engagement
Trainers’ Directory
Trainers who have completed the Housing First Europe Hub’s Train-the-Trainer programme are eligible to join our Housing First Training Faculty. Our expert trainers are leaders in their field and work in organisations, governments, and educational institutions across Europe. Click on the photos below to learn more about each of our certified trainers, or use the filter menu above to find the latest list of trainers available to provide training on Housing First in your local area.
Geert De Bolle
Housing First Lab
Country: Belgium
Languages: DutchEnglish
“For me, Housing First is about dignity. By offering people back a home that is really theirs, you give them so much more: freedom and autonomy, life chances, future, happiness”
Geert has been the Dutch coordinator of the Housing First Lab since 2018. He lives in Kortrijk, is married and has three grown-up children, who are gradually leaving home. He enjoys travelling, long walks and board games. Geert is a trained social worker and had 15 years of experience within the local OCMW operation where he was responsible for the reception and guidance of homeless people. From this work, he got to know the ideas of Housing First. Later in life, he started university studies in social work at Ghent University.
Jana Hájková
Heimstaden Czech s.r.o.
Country: Czech Republic
Languages: CzechEnglish
I manage the S NÁMI DOMŮ project (WITH US HOME program), which has been operating since 2018 and meets all the conditions of Housing First for Youth. As part of the program, we provide housing for children leaving children’s homes and foster families and help them integrate into society.
Juha Kahila
Y-Säätiö/Y-Foundation
Country: Finland
Languages: EnglishFinnish
Juha has been working for 10 years in the field of homelessness. He started as a frontline support worker in 2010 for the Finnish Youth housing association services (NALPA) before becoming Housing First service manager and then CEO of NALPA. He joined Y-Säätiö in 2018 as coordinator for the National Housing First Development Network and became the Lead Coordinator in 2020 and is currently head of international affairs at Y-Säätiö. As part of his role at the Network, Juha organises training courses at national level, and is working on developing the Housing First model together with dozens of NGO’s and cities.
Marlene Panzenböck
Neunerhaus – Hilfe für obdachlose Menschen
Country: Austria
Languages: EnglishGermanSpanish
Marlene is a project manager and team leader at neunerhaus Housing First in Vienna and a lecturer for Housing First at the Vienna University of Applied Sciences. Marlene previously worked as a social worker with young refugees and in the education sector.
Melanie Schmit
LIMOR & Housing First Netherlands
Country: Netherlands
Languages: DutchEnglish
Melanie’s working life focus on people in need, and especially on the field of homelessness. She studied social work, then completed a bachelor’s degree in health care management and a study around professional coaching and leadership. She’s currently focusing on education around public affairs after having started as a social worker in a homelessness service and becoming a Housing First manager for adults and for youth. Today, Melanie works for LIMOR on scaling up, further developing, and promoting Housing First in the Northern and Western part of The Netherlands. She’s also training groups on Housing First. Melanie was one of the co-initiators of Housing First Netherland and is now its president.
Mia Saarela
Y-Säätiö
Country: Finland
Languages: EnglishFinnish
Mia is Coordinator for the National Housing First Development Network in Finland. She is passionate about eradicating homelessness and developing new ways of approaching housing-related issues. Mia has a backround in youth housing, social services & child protection services and is also experience in networking, providing training and a platform for learning about Housing First and housing related social work.
Thomas Lambrechts
Capuche asbl
Country: Belgium
Languages: French
Development of associative project for more than 20 years. I have worked in the fields of culture, politics, sport/leisure and real estate. Investing 100% in HF4Y projects since 2021.
Tomáš Novotný
Spolek PORTAVITA
Country: Czech Republic
Languages: Czech
I started working in 2006 in a Halfway house Chamomile as a social worker and since the year 2013 an educator in a facility for children requiring immediate help in the same organization Chamomile. I did these two jobs at the same time until 2017. After that I started working as a social worker in an Asylum for families with children Hannah, where I worked for 3 years. In 2020, I started as a key social worker in the PORTAVITA Housing First for adults project, where I still work today. Supported persons are mainly single mothers with children, but also complete families. The second project Housing First for Adults is already running at the moment.
