SOCIAL STREET WORK

Dynamo International Network of Social street workers

SOCIAL STREET WORKERS’ RECOMMENDATIONS

FOR COMBATING POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

2ND INTERNATIONAL FORUM “WORDS FROM THE STREET”

BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 2010

For some people, the street is their living space and

this is nothing new. Street work is an innovative

methodology of approaching vulnerable populations

who spend time in the street, working and living there.

This is a multi-faceted practice which requires specifi

c knowledge and skills from those who are available

and who are committed to this social and educational

work with vulnerable people. Street workers choose to

undertake outreach work, making themselves as easily

and simply accessible as possible. They try not to

reduce people to being victims (of poverty, social exclusion

or discrimination) to help them take a positive

approach to being responsible and using their skills.

The lack of institutional recognition of street work is

paradoxically combined with pressure from the institutions

on street workers to ensure their activities

achieve tangible results.

Recommendation n° 22