«It is a great pride for our city: today the first center” after us “is opened in Catona. A project that we kept a lot, because it was one of the first requests of families with kids with different skills. We deliver to the city a structure in which the “after us” will be guaranteed, offering our children the opportunity to live serenely, continue to carry out their activities, knowing that there is a community that takes care of them “. These are the words of the mayor Giuseppe Falcomatà at the inauguration in Catona of the structure “After us”, created within the “Start, towards autonomy” project.
The deputy mayor of the Municipality Paolo Brunetti, the metropolitan deputy mayor Carmelo Versace, the president of the city council Enzo Marra, the councilors Lucia Nucera at welfare, Carmelo Romeo to the programming, Anna Briante to education, the councilors Giuseppe Marino (former councilor for welfare), Maria Ranieri, Giovanni Latella, Franco Barreca, the manager of the public works Doldo and the one were present. Welfare, Francesco Barreca.
As for the costs for the realization, Falcomatà added: “Two million euros per year are the economic figure necessary to complete the cycle of assistance policies to people with disabilities on our territory. But above all they represent the ability to spend community funds well and guarantee a assistance system that transforms a city into a real community. This demonstrates how these policies can also be made in the South, which often serves the lack of services guaranteed by state resources and therefore must make a double effort, using extraordinary resources such as the EU ones. I thank the councilors Nucera and Romeo, the deputy mayor Brunetti: this result is the result of an intersectoral planning, from the planning of funds to the execution of the works “.
The project provides for programmed accompaniment courses for exiting the family unit of origin, also through temporary stays outside the family context. The goal is to create an inclusive co-housing experience that promotes union, sharing and mutual support between participants with various levels of skill and domestic autonomy. Through a welcoming and serene environment, and a gradual distance from the family of origin with short periods of removal, the project wants to experience people with disabilities the pleasure and the advantages of autonomous cohabitation, domestic self -management and the creation of a “fixed -term” community that expresses solidarity and mutual support. Two months are scheduled in the path dedicated to moments of cohabitation of 4 days each (weekend from Thursday to Sunday), for a total of 6 weekends. The goal is to encourage the autonomy of people with disabilities, allowing them to spend time away from the family environment, promoting cohabitation as an experience of learning through domestic and organizational activities. In addition, the project aims to encourage connection, integration and sharing through excursions, creative workshops and entertainment evenings, cultivating significant relationships and the sharing of experiences, knowledge and resources. Individual support is offered through meetings with a psychologist and a social worker.
The deputy mayor Brunetti, with delegation to public works, recalled: «It is one of the most important interventions carried out by the Falcomatà administration. We are able to think, finalize and achieve things: the idea was born in 2016, on the impulse of the National Government Renzi. This is a beautiful structure that will make the kids feel at home ».
Councilor Nucera said: «For me it is a moment of great emotion. This is a path started with the commissioner Marino, continued with the commissioner Demetrio Delfino. I thank the managers and officials who committed themselves to giving these services to the city, and the mayor for entrusting me with this assignment. The “Dream drawer” was made, a circle is closed around our special boys. Families have been asking for it for some time. There are 6 places available and the ambitious project of the junta includes three other structures, in the south, in the areas of bars and pellaro, where groups of apartment will be born ».
Councilor Romeo added: «We are excited for the house that we deliver today. It is a synergistic work that went on despite the difficulties, even when the funding had expired, because we wanted to prevent a work that started with the best auspices would remain unfinished. The mayor indicated to complete the work at best to make directors and families proud “.
The manager Barreca recalled: «The activity had started with Italo Falcomatà, with the funds of the Pic Urban thanks to which, at the end of the 90s, the first center for people with disabilities was built. Today the “after us” service starts which will be added to that in the south areas of the city “. The Doldo manager stressed: «This is an intervention of Urban Efficiency and Regeneration. The first step concerned the casing of the structure with the replacement of the fixtures; The energy efficiency affects all the plants, allowing the structure to self -manage also from the cost point of view. We have recovered the external areas of relevance of the structure and, shortly, the works of the adjacent structure will be delivered, also financed with PON funds for 500 thousand euros “.