At the same time, Marie Öhman, who has many years of experience at the social service in Luleå, points out that the resources to help the most vulnerable are not endless. Solid cooperation between several different authorities is required for people in need to get the right help.
– If I can dream, we would have much more resources available. The homeless are the most difficult group to help because many times it is about people with a co-morbidity. They may suffer from mental illness in combination with an addiction that may have been going on for a long time, she says.
Demands in return
The goal is to be able to help everyone who needs help. But there is legislation and regulations that social services must comply with.
– We also make counterclaims and a return performance from those we are supposed to help. Then we are also completely dependent on collaboration partners so that these people can get the best help.
Could it be that you sometimes make too high demands on people who find it difficult to adapt?
– I understand that problem and from my own experience I know that this group does not always have it so easy to follow our rules. At the same time, we are also human and sometimes we have to bend the curve and find flexible solutions in order to help – but it is not easy, says Öhman.
“Ending up in ethical dilemmas”
Aren’t the requirements too high then?
– Yes, many times we end up in ethical dilemmas where the possibilities of helping these people collide with our regulations. It can be quite difficult, but we raise these issues and try to find other solutions as far as possible. In fact, in most cases, I think we succeed.
This is how Malin Kummu’s criticism was met
Several people we have spoken to believe that case managers are changed so often that it becomes a system. In the end, the homeless can’t bear to fight for their cause.
– I can understand that it can be very difficult when someone gets sick or changes jobs and that is regrettable. We also think that it becomes difficult because then you kind of have to start from scratch at the same time as the research says that you need to build up the long-term relationship in order to succeed.
In the video below, Malin Kummu tells what it’s like to live close to her brother Jonny’s addiction.
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