Publikationer

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