SOLACE-CEE is an innovative project focused on integrating healthcare and social services for people experiencing housing insecurity in five countries across Central and Southeastern Europe. In Slovakia, the project aims to open a clinic to make healthcare more accessible to everyone in Košice and Prešov, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups.
People with experience of homelessness face limited access to healthcare services, which negatively impacts their health. Preventive check-ups, treatment for chronic conditions, and vaccinations are often unavailable to them due to difficult life circumstances. Integrated health and social care will provide comprehensive services through highly qualified staff trained in trauma-informed care.
The recent amendment to the Health Insurance Act, which expands healthcare access to people with outstanding debts, will further support the effectiveness of these services.
In the coming months, needs assessments will be conducted in both cities in Eastern Slovakia through in-depth research interviews with people experiencing homelessness, particularly focusing on healthcare and social support. Identifying these needs will lay the foundation for designing services tailored to the complex and individual needs of future clients and patients at the centers.
Project implementation is already well underway. At DEDO Foundation and All for the family, we are currently taking steps to open the Košice clinic in the first half of 2025, with the Prešov clinic expected to follow in early 2026.
At this stage, our top priorities are securing suitable premises and assembling the right team.
Integrated Care Within Reach
We are currently in the process of selecting and negotiating locations for the clinics. Our goal is to secure spaces that provide an ideal environment for delivering integrated health and social care. The design will reflect trauma-informed principles, creating a safe, welcoming, and healing space.
However, the physical space is only part of the equation. Accessibility for potential clients and patients is equally important, which is why we are prioritizing locations within easy walking distance of the city center.
To ensure we can provide comprehensive care, we are expanding our team to include professionals such as pediatricians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and nurses. We offer these specialists a unique opportunity to be part of a project that is reshaping how we understand and deliver health and social care.
At DEDO Foundation and All for the family, we believe that passionate professionals who embrace innovative approaches to healthcare will be key to the success of the SOLACE-CEE project in Slovakia.
This project offers a unique chance to contribute to meaningful, positive change in the healthcare system.