FAQs

A. Casa Ioana is open to any homeless person; however there are some important exceptions to protect beneficiaries and staff.

Places are not available to those suffering from, or can reasonably be supposed to be suffering from: a highly infectious disease, e.g. tuberculosis or hepatitis C; a condition that makes it impossible for them to look after themselves adequately; or who have or are reasonably suspected of having, aggressive or violent behaviour.

Occasionally, we have to exclude some former beneficiaries because of a serious infringement of the rules and regulations.

If a Casa Ioana social worker reasonably suspects that someone is infested with lice, he or she will be referred to a doctor for treatment before being allowed into the temporary accommodation facility. Similarly, if a social worker reasonably suspects that a resident is suffering from a highly infectious disease, they will also be referred to a doctor for examination.

Residents suffering with such infectious diseases will be assisted to obtain the appropriate treatment before being admitted into the ACASĂ Programme.

A. In exceptional circumstances, particularly during very inclement weather, the ACASĂ Programme’s admissions procedures/restrictions may be relaxed if no danger is likely to be caused to other beneficiaries and staff.

A. Most people wanting a place in Casa Ioana will have been referred to by an outside agency, e.g. the local authorities’ social survives departments, child protection agencies, police, hospital and general public. Others will have heard about us from present or former beneficiaries.

A. The Joanne Trust was a British charity established by Casa Ioana’s president, Ian Tilling, in memory of Joanne Pope, a 16 year old young British women who lost a brave fight against a terminal illness. Ian and Joanne met in 1982 and the experience had a profound effect on Ian who was privileged to be with her when she died.

When the British organisation left Romania in 1995, Ian founded the Casa Ioana Association calling it ‘Ioana’ as it was the Romanian name for Joanne.

A. Casa Ioana is the only provider of temporary accommodation and social support services to Bucharest’s homeless population.

Although some local authorities provide a limited number of night shelter places for people living in their areas, those using the facilities must leave in the morning. There is a huge demand for places in Casa Ioana and those wanting to stay, generally have to go on a waiting list.

We try and keep in touch with those on our waiting list through a named contact person or by regular visits to Casa Ioana by the perspective beneficiary.

A. Yes! For many, it is their only income. Don’t expect all the money to go on food though, living on the street means having a very chaotic life style. Food, clothing and blankets are other things homeless people are very grateful for.

Casa Ioana has heard of people taking homeless people into their own homes to stay for a while, or allowing them to have a shower, or to eat some hot food. You can help a homeless person simply by talking with them and showing some interest in their wellbeing.

A. Casa Ioana provides temporary accommodation and social support services to its beneficiaries. It does not have the resources to assist homeless people on the street. However, the NGO Samu-social Romania provides assistance to homeless people living on the street through its outreach work. You can find their contact details on the, ‘Are you homeless’ page.

A. Casa Ioana has many years experience in working with homeless people and has developed very sophisticated and in-depth monitoring and evaluation tools. It has also developed an Organisational Manual which includes Casa Ioana’s working practices and policies.

Casa Ioana strongly believes that this ‘intellectual property’ belongs to any organisations wanting to work with homeless people in a similar way.

Casa Ioana is always willing to help organisations develop programmes for homeless people.

A. The scope of homelessness in Romania is characterised by its complexity and multifaceted nature, confirmed by the diverse homeless population and the difficult and wide-ranging nature of the causes and effects of being homeless.

Ignoring the street children phenomenon, in 1998 it was generally assumed that the homeless population was made up of single males aged between 45 and 55 years of age. Soon afterwards, they were joined by single women and the age of homeless males started to come down. In the early 2000’s, more and more retired older people were finding themselves homeless and during the last few years they have been joined by a significant and increasing number of families.

Although the profile and nature of homelessness appears to be similar across Europe, the situation in Romania is acute because of the lack of adequate and affordable housing and the increasing level of poverty.

This is exasperated by the fact that homeless people and many others, who leave their towns and villages to find work in the larger cities, find themselves outside the social and health assistance structures.

A. The homeless situation in Romania is the heritage of both the communist regime and the outcome of the harsh economic transition. Despite its principals and objectives, in reality the communist administration failed to provide suitable housing for everyone. Hidden homelessness (namely those living inappropriately in prisons, psychiatric institutions, factory hostels and other institutions) already existed in socialist times, although national authorities insisted in denying its existence.

The closing of workers’ hostels and children’s’ institutions, increased family dysfunction and lack of adequate resources, high unemployment or family responsibilities preventing employment, has led to some of the most vulnerable losing their homes and living on the streets.

Many individuals who become homeless have multiple problems associated with a history of institutional care or confinement, family breakdown, alcoholism, mental and physical health problems, unemployment and a lack of financial resources.