Emergency unit: operating reference

The Emergency Unit's mission is to support the most vulnerable people in the city of Lisbon: individuals and families in social emergency situations, the homeless, and applicants for international protection. The history of the establishment of this unit dates back to 1980, when the Unique Reception Service of Lisbon (SAUL) was created under the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, an institution that would go on to multiply its responses to social emergency situations, such as the Night Emergency Service, the Temporary Accommodation Center Mãe d'Água, or the Social Support Center of Anjos. Only in 2014 did this unique service come to be called the Emergency Unit, integrated into the Directorate of Intervention for Vulnerable Publics and located at Cais do Sodré. Here, the principles and guiding lines of the intervention of this unit of Santa Casa are presented, highlighting the work with the public in emergency situations and, specifically, projects such as the Support Unit for the Homeless Person (UAPSA) and the Planning and Intervention Core with Homeless Persons (NPISA), outlining methodologies and the operational structure of both. This book is part of the Social Action Sebentas Collection, an editorial line dedicated to sharing knowledge acquired and consolidated through practice, with the awareness, however, that this knowledge is always in a state of continuous construction and improvement.

Authors: Rita Valadas (dir.); Celeste Brissos (coord.); Rui Santos; Marina Melo and team

Year of publication: 2016
Publisher: SCML
ISBN: 9789898712486