Publikationer

Communication | Formidling

The Kialaaq Drop-in Centre in Qaqortoq was established as a significant municipal initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable adults, including the homeless. Despite initial enthusiasm and governmental financial backing, the centre has frequently been inaccessible due to repeated closures, staffing is… The Kialaaq Drop-in Centre in Qaqortoq was established as a significant municipal initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable adults, including the homeless. Despite initial enthusiasm and governmental financial backing, the centre has frequently been inaccessible due to repeated closures, staffing issues, and inadequate planning. Problems were compounded by improper recruitment practices, insufficient staff training, unclear user guidelines, and safety concerns. These organisational shortcomings highlight systemic management deficiencies within the municipality. The case underlines the necessity for comprehensive planning, clear operational strategies, and qualified personnel in social service delivery, emphasising that effective social work requires meticulous preparation and structured implementation. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

The Kialaaq Drop-in Centre in Qaqortoq was established as a significant municipal initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable adults, including the homeless. Despite initial enthusiasm and governmental financial backing, the centre has frequently been inaccessible due to repeated closures, staffing is… The Kialaaq Drop-in Centre in Qaqortoq was established as a significant municipal initiative aimed at supporting vulnerable adults, including the homeless. Despite initial enthusiasm and governmental financial backing, the centre has frequently been inaccessible due to repeated closures, staffing issues, and inadequate planning. Problems were compounded by improper recruitment practices, insufficient staff training, unclear user guidelines, and safety concerns. These organisational shortcomings highlight systemic management deficiencies within the municipality. The case underlines the necessity for comprehensive planning, clear operational strategies, and qualified personnel in social service delivery, emphasising that effective social work requires meticulous preparation and structured implementation. Læs mere

Research | Forskning - peer review

Et årtis grønlandsk hjemløshedsforskning har også afdækket problemer med ungdomshjemløshed. Der er stor bevågenhed om ungdomshjemløshed i mange andre lande, fordi man er bekymret for, at problemer med unges hjemløshed vokser til øget voksenhjemløshed. I denne artikel ser vi som nogle af de første på… Et årtis grønlandsk hjemløshedsforskning har også afdækket problemer med ungdomshjemløshed. Der er stor bevågenhed om ungdomshjemløshed i mange andre lande, fordi man er bekymret for, at problemer med unges hjemløshed vokser til øget voksenhjemløshed. I denne artikel ser vi som nogle af de første på ungdomshjemløsheden i Grønland. Vi dokumenterer tendenser på baggrund af den nationale hjemløsetælling, kvantitativ empiri fra herbergsmiljøet samt kvalitative studier om ungdomshjemløsheden fra supportsystemet i Nuuk. Unge hjemløse er svære at definere, så det giver et styrket sammenligningsgrundlag, og det er svært at skaffe et metodisk overblik over gruppen med konventionelle tællemetoder såsom point-in-time tællinger. Derfor tages metodetriangulering i brug med kvantitative surveys og tællinger samt kvalitative interviews og feltarbejde. Artiklen afsluttes med en række korte opmærksomhedspunkter og peger på veje til forebyggelse. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of t… Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of the Greenlandic government’s homelessness strategy is the establishment of street units to build trust and provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. However, institutional challenges, including bureaucratic processes and limited resources, hinder the effectiveness of such efforts. A lack of outreach work often leads to feelings of dehumanization among marginalized individuals, exacerbating stress, depression, and mistrust toward public systems. The article emphasizes that outreach social work is crucial for re-establishing trust and supporting individuals out of homelessness. Recommendations include implementing the Housing First approach, tailoring shelters to specific groups, and focusing on reintegration and education for youth. Municipalities are urged to prioritize trust-building practices and adopt inclusive, human-centered strategies to combat homelessness. The authors highlight these themes in upcoming training modules on street-level and shelter-based outreach, which Ilisimatusarfik will offer for free in 2025-2026. The training aims to equip practitioners with tools for proactive, trust-based outreach work as part of the Greenlandic government’s broader homelessness strategy. Abstract in Danish Opsøgende arbejde fokuserer på mennesket bag hjemløsheden Af Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd Denne artikel undersøger, hvordan kommunerne kan forbedre opsøgende socialt arbejde med fokus på hjemløshed i Grønland. Et centralt mål i Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi er etablering af gadeenheder for at skabe tillid og støtte til mennesker i hjemløshed. Dog står offentlige institutioner overfor udfordringer som bureaukrati og manglende ressourcer, hvilket begrænser indsatsen. Manglende opsøgende arbejde kan føre til, at udsatte borgere føler sig dehumaniserede, hvilket forstærker stress, depression og mistillid til systemet. Artiklen understreger, at opsøgende socialt arbejde er afgørende for at genskabe tillid og hjælpe borgere ud af hjemløshed. Anbefalingerne inkluderer anvendelse af Housing First-metoden, tilpasning af herberger til specifikke målgrupper og fokus på reintegration og uddannelse af unge. Kommuner opfordres til at prioritere tillidsopbyggende praksisser og implementere inkluderende, menneskecentrerede strategier for at bekæmpe hjemløshed. Forfatterne fremhæver disse temaer i kommende kursusmoduler om gadeplan- og herbergsarbejde, som Ilisimatusarfik tilbyder gratis i 2025-2026. Kurset sigter mod at ruste praktikere til proaktivt og tillidsbaseret opsøgende arbejde som en del af Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract The article "Homelessness in Qaqortoq: Grassroots Help Amidst Municipal Apathy" examines the pressing issue of homelessness in Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland. Drawing from ethnographic research, it highlights the systemic challenges faced by the Kujalleq Municipality, including limited resou… Abstract The article "Homelessness in Qaqortoq: Grassroots Help Amidst Municipal Apathy" examines the pressing issue of homelessness in Qaqortoq, Southern Greenland. Drawing from ethnographic research, it highlights the systemic challenges faced by the Kujalleq Municipality, including limited resources and insufficient housing, alongside the remarkable grassroots efforts of local citizens who fill the gaps in the welfare system. The chronicle sheds light on the broader context of homelessness in Greenland, comparing it to similar issues in remote regions like Nunavut, Canada. It emphasizes the need for sustainable, long-term solutions such as legal reforms, structured support systems, and affordable housing initiatives. The article also critiques the municipality’s limited capacity to address homelessness while acknowledging the recent promise of a day shelter in Qaqortoq as a small but important step forward. Resumé Artiklen "Hjemløshed i Qaqortoq: Hjælp fra Græsrødder midt i Kommunal Apati" undersøger den presserende problematik omkring hjemløshed i Qaqortoq i det sydlige Grønland. Baseret på etnografisk forskning fremhæves Kujalleq Kommunes systemiske udfordringer, herunder begrænsede ressourcer og manglende boliger, samtidig med de bemærkelsesværdige græsrodsindsatser fra lokale borgere, der udfylder hullerne i velfærdssystemet. Kronikken belyser den bredere kontekst for hjemløshed i Grønland og sammenligner med lignende problematikker i fjerntliggende regioner som Nunavut, Canada. Den understreger behovet for bæredygtige, langsigtede løsninger såsom lovgivningsreformer, strukturerede støttesystemer og billige boligløsninger. Artiklen kritiserer kommunens begrænsede kapacitet til at håndtere hjemløshed, men anerkender samtidig det nyligt annoncerede værested i Qaqortoq som et lille, men vigtigt skridt fremad. Læs mere

Communication | Formidling

Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal… Abstract in English Outreach Work Focuses on the Person Behind Homelessness By Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare This article explores how municipalities can improve outreach social work, focusing on addressing homelessness in Greenland. A central goal of the Greenlandic government’s homelessness strategy is the establishment of street units to build trust and provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness. However, institutional challenges, including bureaucratic processes and limited resources, hinder the effectiveness of such efforts. A lack of outreach work often leads to feelings of dehumanization among marginalized individuals, exacerbating stress, depression, and mistrust toward public systems. The article emphasizes that outreach social work is crucial for re-establishing trust and supporting individuals out of homelessness. Recommendations include implementing the Housing First approach, tailoring shelters to specific groups, and focusing on reintegration and education for youth. Municipalities are urged to prioritize trust-building practices and adopt inclusive, human-centered strategies to combat homelessness. The authors highlight these themes in upcoming training modules on street-level and shelter-based outreach, which Ilisimatusarfik will offer for free in 2025-2026. The training aims to equip practitioners with tools for proactive, trust-based outreach work as part of the Greenlandic government’s broader homelessness strategy. Abstract in Danish Opsøgende arbejde fokuserer på mennesket bag hjemløsheden Af Kevin Perry & Steven Arnfjord - Ilisimatusarfiks Center for Arktisk Velfærd Denne artikel undersøger, hvordan kommunerne kan forbedre opsøgende socialt arbejde med fokus på hjemløshed i Grønland. Et centralt mål i Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi er etablering af gadeenheder for at skabe tillid og støtte til mennesker i hjemløshed. Dog står offentlige institutioner overfor udfordringer som bureaukrati og manglende ressourcer, hvilket begrænser indsatsen. Manglende opsøgende arbejde kan føre til, at udsatte borgere føler sig dehumaniserede, hvilket forstærker stress, depression og mistillid til systemet. Artiklen understreger, at opsøgende socialt arbejde er afgørende for at genskabe tillid og hjælpe borgere ud af hjemløshed. Anbefalingerne inkluderer anvendelse af Housing First-metoden, tilpasning af herberger til specifikke målgrupper og fokus på reintegration og uddannelse af unge. Kommuner opfordres til at prioritere tillidsopbyggende praksisser og implementere inkluderende, menneskecentrerede strategier for at bekæmpe hjemløshed. Forfatterne fremhæver disse temaer i kommende kursusmoduler om gadeplan- og herbergsarbejde, som Ilisimatusarfik tilbyder gratis i 2025-2026. Kurset sigter mod at ruste praktikere til proaktivt og tillidsbaseret opsøgende arbejde som en del af Naalakkersuisut hjemløsestrategi. Læs mere