Name of project
Duration
Length of the project
Target group
Eligibility criteria
For instance: unemployed adults, age group: 50 – 65years.
Initiator
Who first came with the initiative
Stakeholders in the project
Your Own Spot (Je Eigen Stek, location of HVOQuerido)
Initiated in 2007, officially opened in 2008 till
now
People who experience homelessness, age
from 23
HVO-Querido (an organization which provides
care and shelter for homeless people) and the
initiative group of former homeless people
HVO-Querido
Organizers (so not the participants/target group)
Total project costs (€)
Location of the project
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Country
Keywords
Max. 4 keywords that characterize the content of the project
Contact
Consumer-run shelter, recovery, innovation,
social work
www.jeeigenstek.nl
Tolstraat 86, 1074 SE Amsterdam
020-4715626
project.jeeigenstek@gmail.com
Purpose of the project What purposes was the project supposed to achieve according to project plan (max. 150 words)?
Je Eigen Stek is a consumer-run shelter for people who experience homelessness. It is a house that
provides shelter for sixteen people.
The goal of Je Eigen Stek is:
 To support each other on the road towards personal and social recovery and towards an
independent life after Je Eigen Stek
 To increase the empowerment of the residents on their own life and environment
 To develop the concept of consumer-run shelter. Je Eigen Stek is since 2009 associated
with the ‘Wmo-werkplaats Amsterdam’1. This is a knowledge network where the
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences works together with the municipality, Je Eigen
Stek, and other professionals and contributes to the development of evidence-based
practice and practice-based evidence.
 To contribute to a more recovery orientated approach within the organization HVOQuerido
 To promote consumer-run shelters in and outside the Netherlands
Strength based character Why can this project be seen as strength based: what do you expect to offer the target group and
what you expect from them?
Je Eigen Stek offers a place where the residents have:
 the possibility to give direction to their own lives, instead of professionals deciding for
them
 a place where they can experiment and practice with new roles
 responsibilities as individuals and as a group
 the time and ease to reflect on their situation
 hope for a house in the future.
1
http://www.wmowerkplaatsen.nl/over-de-wmo-werkplaatsen
Je Eigen Stek expects from their residents that they:
 support each other on their road to recovery
 talk about the daily challenges in the house
 have the motivation to change
 participate in the household and other activities
Target group Who/what is the target group?
Men and women from 23 years and who experience homelessness.
Choice for target group Motivation for the choice
There was a need for a place where people who experience homelessness can be ‘free’ of
paternalistic professionals. Some of them, because of the law and regulations, fall into a void. For
that reason, the initiative group started their own shelter, for those who have the same
experience. In return, they have to participate in the household and activities of the consumer-run
shelter.
Activities Actual activities the project consists off, what is it you do?
Residents:
 To do the groceries
 To clean the house
 To attend and participate weekly meetings
 To do interviews
 To do evaluations
 To participate in projects and other meetings about Je Eigen Stek
Social worker and peer worker
 To guard and stimulate the values and development of the consumer-run shelter, by:
o Supporting individuals by giving information and advice, to reflect, coach and
motivate for behavioral change
o Supporting the group process and collective participation and peer support
o Supporting the development of the project within and outside the project
o Being a link to external companies or health care providers
Together
 Initiating and setting up a platform for consumer-run shelters
 Participating in presentations, workshops and other activities about consumer-run shelters
Methods Which strength based methods were used, so how do you do it?
Je Eigen Stek as a consumer-run shelter is a method in development.
The social worker uses the following methods:
 Motivational coaching
 Empowerment approach
 Group dynamics
 Recovery approach
Initiator and partners Who was involved?





HVO-Querido
Municipality of Amsterdam
Housing corporations ‘Eigen Haard’ and ‘Alliantie’
Communication Bureau ‘De Mat’
Initiative group of residents of Je Eigen Stek
Responsibility of initiators and partners Responsibility of initiator(s) and partner(s)?
HVO-Querido was responsible for:
 The building
 Financial support
 Juridical support
 Service support
Municipality of Amsterdam
 Financing
 Priority rule for housing (providing five houses a year)
Housing corporation Eigen Haard
 Provided five houses
Housing corporation Alliantie
 Provided six houses
Communication bureau ‘De Mat’
 Coaching in communication
 Supporting de development of the project plan.
Initiative group of residents of Je Eigen Stek
 Active participation of the project
Output achievements What output has been achieved? For example: number of people enrolled and number of people finished
the course, products delivered such as a training, handbook etc
Output 2011
House by priority rule municipality of Amsterdam
House by own effort
House with ambulatory support to house without
Total
Fall out
3
3
1
7
3
Output 2012
House by priority rule municipality of Amsterdam
House by own effort
House with ambulatory support to house without
Total
Fall out
5
3
4
12
2
Output 2013
House by priority rule municipality of Amsterdam
House by own effort
House with ambulatory support to house without
Total
Fall out
6
2
1
9
2
Output January till March 2014
House by priority rule municipality of Amsterdam
House by own effort
House with ambulatory support to house without
Total
Fall out
1
3
0
4
0
Outcomes achievements What were the outcomes (none-measurable results, for instance a starting friendship), related to
purpose of the project and other ‘accidental’ outcomes. Make an explicit distinction between evaluation results and
hearsay/feelings/opinions
According to Boumans et al. (2012)2, in general, the residents of a consumer-run shelter feel
bonded with each other. They have to work and decide together and can receive mutual support.
Because of this, they learn social skills. This occurs within an environment that provides ease and
demands that the residents take responsibility for each other and the shelter. This results in
getting appreciation, (re)discovering talents and competence and regaining their self-esteem.
Dilemmas that come with consumer-run shelters are the suitability for residents with specific
problems and sometimes the lack of incentives to stimulate the residents.
Specific strength based success factors What strength based factors made the project successful (for example: to involve
target group/ users in the project)




Active participation of residents
Tailored Support
Network
Cooperation and commitment of the municipality of Amsterdam, HVO-Querido and
housing corporations.
Room for improvement What would you do differently in the future, how would you improve the program?


2
To move to another building that provides more privacy and where residents can be more
involved in social activities with the perspective of a paid job.
More focus on individual and social recovery of the residents.
Boumans, J., Muusse, C., Planije, M. & Tuynman, M. (2012). ‘Nu leef je zelf’. Een onderzoek naar zelfbeheer in
de maatschappelijke opvang. Utrecht: Trimbos-instituut.
Sustainability How can the project be sustained in the long run so others can implement or integrate the project in their
organization or practice?



Ongoing involvement and commitment of the residents of Je Eigen Stek
Commitment of the municipality of Amsterdam
Research