Good Practice Criteria
Inclusivity & Participation
Does the practice ensure that its services are accessible and responsive to diverse groups?
The practice offers training on housing-related themes and individual counselling to both migrants and professionals working with migrants. Possible challenges in communication, such as language, are taken into account during service development. Information and services are available in multiple languages and in multiple channels. Research, fieldwork and communication with different stakeholders and the target group is carried out to identify gaps in services and to reach diverse groups.
Inspiring tools:
Good practice checklist
✓ Adopt a participatory, gender mainstreaming, age sensitive, inclusive approach and secure equal opportunities for beneficiaries.
✓ Make sure to provide precise and accessible information on how to access services in different languages, formats and through different communication channels
✓ Ensure that equality and diversity are an essential part of how services are delivered, taking into consideration different needs and capacities.
✓ Make reasonable adjustments to service delivery in order to take into account particular needs of the target group.
Does the practice involve the active participation of the receiving society?
The practice considers integration a two-way process, and aims to improve policies, visibility of migrant housing issues, and the receiving society’s attitude toward migrants. The practice involves consulting and training for professionals of relevant fields, such as local authorities who work on housing and homelessness. In addition, the practice actively collaborates with organisations, institutions and authorities from different sectors.
Good practice checklist
✓ Consider integration as a two-way process, and aim for change on the side of the receiving society.
✓ Foresee an active role for the receiving society in the design and implementation stages of the practice, and involve actions that encourage native communities and beneficiaries to work together.
Does the practice consult its beneficiaries and involve them in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the action?
People from diverse backgrounds with lived experience of migration are involved in the design, implementation and evaluation of the practice. In 2014, Moniheli ry – at the request of Finnish Ministry of the Environment – published a report on homelessness among migrants in the capital region, built on interviews and consultation with migrants. The report was used as a basis for the Katto practice.
Inspiring tools:
Good practice checklist
✓ Organise consultation activities with migrant beneficiaries in order to co-create actions where possible and secure their feedback on the design and evaluation of the action.
✓ Provide appropriate feedback mechanisms by which beneficiaries can safely express their opinions on service quality.
– Use flexible and interculturally-adapted formats and compensate participants for their contribution.
Relevance & Complementarity
Are the objectives of the practice relevant to the needs of the migrants?
The objectives of the practice include reducing and preventing homelessness among the migrant population, increasing the volume of easily accessible information on housing and living in Finland, bringing visibility to the issue of housing, and improving collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The overall objective is to bring about long-term change that better promotes housing for migrants Finland. These objectives were decided upon following research and consultation with the target groups.
Good practice checklist
✓ Identify and analyse the needs of the relevant migrants and prioritise methods which directly ask them about their needs.
✓ Identify and analyse gaps in integration support and design actions to fill these gaps.
✓ Aim for systemic improvement, satisfying the needs of the majority of target groups in the target area.
Is the practice relevant to the empowerment of migrants, the strengthening of their autonomy and the support of their long-term integration?
The practice aims to improve the position of migrants in the rental and housing markets, and to reduce structural issues that cause homelessness among migrants. In turn, this will promote migrants’ autonomy, secure their rights, and facilitate their long-term integration. The counselling services and training offered as a part of the practice also serve to strengthen migrants’ autonomy and long-term integration.
Good practice checklist
✓ Devise actions with the overarching goal of providing positive feedback and making migrants more confident, autonomous and independent.
✓ Contribute to migrants’ engagement with the community for the common good.
✓ Ensure that services contribute to the strengthening of the capacities of migrants/migrant communities.
✓ Include (or create the preconditions for) actions that facilitate long-term integration.
✓ Address discrimination and information gaps as obstacles to long-term integration.
Does the practice align with the priorities, strategic goals and policies of other relevant stakeholders, and contribute to the wider integration framework?
The practice supports the Finnish government in its goal to end homelessness in the capital region by 2027. It contributes to this by filling gaps in the services currently offered to migrants, identifying structural issues in homelessness policy, advocating for migrants and raising awareness of related issues, and initiating and strengthening cooperation between relevant stakeholders.
Good practice checklist
✓ Ensure that all actions are in line with international and European human rights standards.
✓ Employ regional/local, national and EU/international level integration-related guidelines and tools.
✓ Make sure that the services offered contribute to the strengthening of the capacities of relevant institutions to support future development.
Effectiveness
Is the practice adequately planned and based on a comprehensive design?
The practice has clear objectives, decided upon following careful research. Statistical data and feedback from the target group are used in measuring practice results and improving its implementation.
The practice is divided into four categories: action training, customer service, advocacy, and working with stakeholders and networks. These categories were decided upon following the needs identification stage of the practice design process. The practice plan and budget are updated and evaluated annually.
Good practice checklist
✓ Aim for actions that achieve observable outcomes among the target group or contribute to changes during the implementation of the action.
✓ Make sure that the objectives and planned results of the activity are feasible and clear.
✓ Develop a communications strategy during the design phase of the action and pay attention to communication with host communities and local authorities.
✓ Ensure the practice is based on indicators that are measurable, achievable, and relevant.
✓ Develop a staff management plan to identify team members with the right skills to work with beneficiaries, and their needs for training and further qualification.
Does the practice regularly monitor implementation and evaluate its results?
The practice regularly evaluates and assesses its activities and the migrant homelessness context, adjusting implementation accordingly.
Good practice checklist
✓ Ensure regular monitoring of action implementation and compare actual performance to goals set during the design phase.
− Anticipate obstacles that might occur and plan alternative scenarios during the design phase of the action.
✓ Ensure achievement of intended outputs / outcomes.
✓ Determine whether practice outcomes are considered successful by beneficiaries, the host and practitioner communities, funders, and policymakers.
✓ Assess whether interventions contribute to long-term sustainable change.
Sustainability
Is the practice prepared to sustain its positive effects after completion?
The practice aims to secure changes to relevant polices and services, reduce negative attitudes towards migrants as tenants and neighbours on the part of Finnish society, and to build knowledge around housing and living in Finland among migrants. These positive effects will continue to benefit the target group even after completion of the practice.
Good practice checklist
✓ During the design phase, anticipate opportunities to continue the intervention after completion.
✓ Prepare and apply a well-defined sustainability plan to ensure the continuation of positive effects / outcomes.
✓ Devote resources to building capacities during the implementation phase, in order to ensure that the necessary human resources, expertise and infrastructure are in place to sustain the services upon completion of the action.
Does the practice attract structural funding and support from new sponsors and individuals, or have the potential to develop a business model to generate its own resources?
The practice has received funding from state actors, the Sloth Machine Association (RAY) and, since 2017, the Funding Centre For Social Welfare and Health Organisations (STEA). Since 2021, Moniheli ry has also been receiving funding from donors and members.
Good practice checklist
✓ Develop partnerships and relations with relevant stakeholders at the early stage of the action to ensure that the practice has strong support and potential partners for after the primary funding terminates.
✓ Identify new EU and national funding opportunities for long-term integration (e.g., shifting from project-based initiatives that are limited in time or dependent on one (external) donor to a comprehensive, multi-year strategy based on secured funding or diverse funding opportunities).
✓ Diversify funding opportunities and identify options for self-financing through business activities or social entrepreneurship.
Partnership & Collaboration
Does the practice establish communication and coordination with other relevant actors to foster the integration of migrants? (e.g., migrants, civil society, public authorities, businesses)
The practice has established communication and coordination with relevant actors from both the public and third sectors, and is actively involved in national and international networks and discussions related to migrant homelessness and housing.
Good practice checklist
✓ Ensure the involvement and participation of key stakeholders in the development phase and create strategies to involve them in the action.
✓ Include multi-stakeholder consultation with professionals, institutions, and citizens, in order to promote the meaningful participation of refuges and migrants and support a joint sense of ownership of decisions and actions.
Does the practice contribute to discussion on the improvement of integration support policies?
The Katto practice promotes discussion of migrant homelessness and related issues by bringing different stakeholders together, sharing with them relevant information from the field and advocating for migrants.
Good practice checklist
✓ Seize opportunities to contribute to the development of comprehensive integration strategies involving EU-level/national/regional/local authorities, service providers and civil society.
✓ Work with relevant partners to jointly review operations, practices, services, and integration outcomes.