The aim of supporting people returning to an independent life, i.e reintegration is to maintain or improve the person’s or family’s ability to cope in society as independently as possible (including being able to find themselves a home and fulfil duties associated with it). During reintegration the person is ensured housing and is offered help needed in their everyday activities, improving their coping skills and achieving the ability to live independently.

The goals, activities needed to achieve them and the schedule for achieving them are planned in cooperation with the person in need.

The service is provided:

• in a shelter: if the person does not have a home and they have special health needs and need constant help and care throughout a longer time period
• in a social housing unit: if the person doesn’t have a home, they need guidance and counselling in maintaining or improving independent living ability
• in a dormitory: if the person doesn’t have a home, they only need a bit of guidance and counselling in achieving independent living ability

The reintegration service has multiple stages starting in the shelter, where people need support and guidance the most. After achieving the goals set or if a person does not have health issues or caring needs, it is possible to go to a social housing unit and after that to a dormitory, where only a little guidance and counselling is needed.

From a social housing unit or dormitory it is possible to go and live independently after the goals set have been achieved (the person also receives help with finding a home from the rental market). The necessity for the reintegration service is assessed by a social welfare departament of the city district government of the place of residence, where an application is submitted in order to receive the service. More information about the reintegration service can be found on the website of the Tallinn Social Work Centre.