Type person: Trainer

For 25 years I have been working as a trainer and consultant in the non-profit sector. Since 2018 I have been working for fio.PSD as coordinator of HF - the Italian Housing First community. In addition to designing and leading training courses, I have initiated communities of practice, coaching pathways and promoted HF as a compass for systemic change in homelessness services. I participated in the first Train the Trainer Housing First (2018), and since then I have curated the training of coordinators and programme workers across Italy. I see community work and the logic of proximity as central to the development of HF.

I completed my TTT in cohort 4 whilst working as manager of a Housing First team in Newcastle. We set this team up from scratch which included a lot of training and influencing. Learning and reflection is an important part of our model and I deliver a lot of informal training. Before working in Housing First I worked in a youth participation project which also influenced my training style.

Cara has worked with homeless families, single adults, and children across Focus Ireland’s various housing services in Focus Ireland for over 20 years. Now on the Practice Development team her role involves policy development and supporting the design of a psychological environment based on Housing First and trauma informed philosophies. Cara’s training methodology is based on Freire’s approach emphasising dialogue, critical thinking and social Justice. Cara delivers training on Housing First, trauma and addiction, harm reduction, self-care for staff. Cara has an MA in Social Justice & Public Policy and a Post Grad Cert in Trauma Studies. When not working Cara likes rock climbing and being outside. Cara is currently the lead trainer on the Housing First Europe Hub’s Train-the-Trainer programme.

Michelle is an experienced trainer who completed the Train the Trainer course in 2021 as part of Cohort 4. Training Modules and eLearning that she can deliver to councils, health and social care providers, housing associations and third sector organisations in Scotland include: - An introduction to Housing First and the principles - Championing Housing First - Commissioning Housing First - Tenancy sustainment - Coproduction and participation. Homeless Network Scotland can also provide bespoke training and consultancy on the topic. Their training is centred around direct experience and evidence, good vibes and systems level change.

I am a sociologist and have worked with social work and homelessness for almost 20 years in various sectors. Now I work as a development manager at Stockholm City Mission. I went to cohort 4 and since then have trained in housing first for Sweden's city missions, mainly for municipalities in the start-up phase but also in other forms. Housing first because it works!

Maria has started working with clients. Substance abuse, mental health, social problems and homelessness are familiar themes to her from that time. She has also designed services for these client groups and acted as Programme Manager for the Helsinki region of the programme to reduce long-term homelessness. Currently, Maria works at the Y-Foundation, where she has been for the last eleven years in various positions. She is currently working in the Housing First Network Developers and her tasks include the dissemination and mainstreaming of Housing First work, for example through trainings.

Julia's engagement in homelessness began with research for the Municipality of Warsaw during her Sociology studies at the University of Warsaw before becoming an independent researcher for the European Observatory on Homelessness (FEANTSA). In her later projects she concentrated on evaluating housing led programs through in-depth interviews with people experiencing homelessness. Since 2019 she’s the President of the Board of Housing First Poland Foundation. Currently she provides fidelity consultation for the teams that want to develop their programs towards HF principles. Last but not least she is a social integration therapist (PTPOW 2019) and motivational interviewing practitioner (PIDM 2022) and with that background she works as a support worker for people experiencing homelessness in Warsaw.

Dagmara is a psychologist and has been working with people with mental illness for more than 10 years at low thresholds, with a focus on recovery and empowerment. In 2019, she started offering psychological support to homeless people at Berlin Zoo Station and subsequently at Housing First Berlin. Her focus is on the link to the health care system and the implementation of trauma-sensitive work in a multi-professional team. As a Housing First trainer, Dagmara shares her expertise on recovery and trauma.

I am a social educator and social worker. As a social intervention professional from 2011, I have worked in many social sectors and social areas, which has allowed me to develop different skills and intervention strategies, in addition to having different professional experiences. Currently, I work as a support worker on the public project “Building Home. Housing First” in Madrid. I feel very strongly about Housing First and its principles. I think Housing First is the way societies can end homelessness and I am sure that this reality is possible.

I am currently a Team Leader of a London-Wide Housing First Service (Crisis UK). I have over 10 years experience working in the homelessness sector, predominately in Housing First Services. I'm a keen advocate for systems change and sharing learning and best practice.