This year, within its financial resources of PLN 2.2 million, the Ministry of Social Policy will provide targeted subsidies to non-governmental organisations providing social services in the field of counteracting homelessness and helping the homeless. The implementation of the task should end by 31 December 2004. The deadline for submitting offers is 25 July 2004.

The direct form of support to the non-governmental organisations implementing the Homelessness Programme will include projects submitted by homogeneous entities with a nationwide scope of operation and those that have a union, umbrella or federation structure, as well as original innovative projects of non-governmental organisations containing programmes of getting out of homelessness.

The Ministry of Social Policy expects all entities interested in receiving a subsidy that meet the above-mentioned criteria to submit an appropriate offer for this purpose.

The objective of direct support by the Ministry of Social Policy to selected non-governmental organisations is to assist in the creation and development of sustainable foundations for the functioning of the social assistance system to counteract social exclusion, based on governmental coordination, control and promotion of activities in this area.

In view of the above, offers fulfilling the requirements of art. 29 and 30 of the Act of 12 March 2004 on social assistance, drawn up in line with the model offer which is annexed to the Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 30 June 2000 on detailed principles and forms of cooperation between public administration and other entities, and models of offers, contracts and reports on the implementation of social welfare assignments ( Dz.U. 2000, No. 55, item 662 ), should be submitted to the Department of Social Assistance and Integration of the Ministry of Social Policy (ul. Nowogrodzka 1/3/5, 00-513 Warsaw, room 208 B). The deadline for submitting completed offer forms together with the required documentation is 25 July 2004. Offers that do not meet the conditions contained in the announcement will not be considered.

After the distribution of funds for the implementation of the submitted projects has been made by a commission at the Ministry of Social Policy, each of the organisations which will be awarded a grant will be notified separately of the date and place of signing the relevant agreement. This agreement will specify in detail the conditions for the use and settlement of the grant received. At the same time, the Ministry of Social Policy kindly informs that additional funds for the implementation of tasks related to providing help to the homeless by non-governmental organisations of local and regional range will be made available to voivodes.

Detailed information on the assumptions of the Homelessness Programme may be obtained on the website - www.mpips.gov.pl and in the social policy departments of the voivodeship offices or from the Team for Cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations in the Department of Aid and Social Integration of the Ministry of Social Policy (tel. 022 661 01 89).