A radically inclusive library for people experiencing homelessness Sanja Bunic Zagreb City Libraries CROATIA 15 May 2018 1 1

CONTENT Important things to know about homelessness The concept of a radically inclusive library Homelessness in Croatia A Book for a Roof – a radical inclusive approach to library services to people experiencing homelessness A key message CONTENT 2 2

Psycho-social support for people experiencing homelessness Can you guess who is homeless? 3 3

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Definition of homelessness (Institute of Global Homelessness) People without accommodation: people sleeping on the streets and in other open spaces, or in places not meant for human habitation People living in temporary or crisis accommodation: shelters of all kinds, from emergency to transitional, from hostels to camps People living in severely inadequate and/or insecure accommodation: people sharing with friends and relatives on a temporary basis, people living under threat of violence, people living in conventional housing that is unfit for human habitation... 5 5

Individual circumstances Causes of homelessness System failures Difficult transitions from child welfare, inadequate discharge planning for people leaving hospitals, corrections, mental health and addiction facilities and a lack of support for immigrants and refugees Individual circumstances Traumatic events (e.g. house fire or job loss), personal crisis (e.g. family break-up or domestic violence), mental health and addiction challenges (including brain injury and fetal alcohol syndrome) Structural factors Lack of adequate income, access to affordable housing and health support and/or the experience of discrimination 6 6

A radically inclusive library (Margo Gustina and Eli Guinnee) 1. empowering - equitable access requires the elevation of less heard community members so all people are valued within the library culture 2. supportive - the library demands nothing of the visitor and offers solutions to challenges and development of aspirations 3. resilient - library programs strengthen the community 4. preserving - to preserve community and cultural memory is to include all voices 7 7

Homelessness in Croatia transition from socialism to capitalism the war in the first half of the 1990s every fourth citizen is poor 2011 Social Welfare Act – homelessness mentioned for the 1st time no relevant data about the number of people experiencing homelessness lack of programs for them insufficient communication in the system Homelessness in Croatia 8 8

A Book for a Roof - 8 years of experiences in organizing library services for people experiencing homelessness 9 9

Advocacy on a national and international level! 4 stages in the development of the services 1. Establishing contact with people experiencing homelessness (2010) important link: a person experiencing homelessness - volunteer 2. encourage the homeless to enter the labour market (EIFL grant – 2011/2012) lack of partners support, burnout syndrome 3. networking partners, publishing and donating (2013) empowering people experiencing homelessness builds community 4. individual approach in supporting users (2014/2018) listening and supporting persons experiencing homeless according to their individual needs and potential Advocacy on a national and international level! 10 10

Award Pride of Croatia 2016 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Co-chaired the IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to People Experiencing Homelessness 12 12 12 12 12 12 12

People experiencing homelessness in the libraries can be creative, sell their handmade items, magazines, make a big contribution to library services for them, promote, overcome prejudice... 13 13

In the shelters we organized small libraries, IT workshops, legal and psycho-social support... 14 14

We donate books and IT equipment, organize conferences, publish and collect books, magazines and other materials related to homelessness... 15 15

Some of our users found jobs, some do artistic performances… Most of them just want to be treated with respect. 16 16

just the way we are and we have fun! 8,526,124 We accept each other just the way we are and we have fun! 17 17

"There are a number of reasons why I attend programs for the homeless in the library. First of all, to become more computer literate, and second of all, and the most important reason for me, that I feel like a person who is welcomed with respect and acceptance." Mile Mrvalj, user former person experiencing homelessness 18 18

For more inspiration look at IFLA Guidelines. There are 50 examples of good practices from around the world! 19 19

Thanks! sanja.bunic@kgz.hr 20 20