Use a participatory approach in research needs in housing – are we ready?

The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of using a participatory approach in social work. The text follows the preparatory phase of the research, which aims to identify and analyze the needs in terms of housing of... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of this paper is to discuss the possibility of using a participatory approach in social work. The text follows the preparatory phase of the research, which aims to identify and analyze the needs in terms of housing of Roma living in socially excluded localities (by ETHOS in a situation "after the loss of housing", housing insecure, inadequate).
Social work fails in solving the acute problems of their clients the last few years. The problems in the housing sector are most serious and most difficult to solve. It can be regarded as an extreme form of social inequality the exclusion of permanent, qualitatively adequate and spatially non excluded housing.
With the changing European social and political context is also necessary change concept in the provision of social work. The changing role of social workers from a fixer to facilitator between the clients and the environment is the big issue on social work.
One of the tasks of social work should be the facilitation needs and expectations of its clients and their environment. The identifying the needs of clients and their submission to the macro level so that the systems at the macro level as to be able to react effectively, it seems as a very effective first step.
Our research is oriented by community based participatory research. The condition is the involvement and full participation of people from the community at every stage of the research process. We research in socially excluded localities where professionals realized community work, and where is already some degree of community organizing. In this paper we seek to answer the question whether, when and how do we know that all those involved (people, community workers and academics) access to such research prepared.