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Join our CEO Sleep Out and help people who need it most

Are you up for the challenge?

To mark “World Homeless Day”, on 8th October 2021, the most compassionate business leaders will come together, giving up their beds for one night to sleep out to raise awareness and much needed funds for people who have been pulled into homelessness.

This event is intended to be the first of many CEO Sleep Outs to be held in Romania on or around World Homeless Day each year and established as an important date in the business calendar.

What is the CEO Sleep Out?

Casa Ioana’s CEO Sleep Out will be a one-night event over one of the longest and coldest nights of the year.

CEOs and business owners, together with community and government leaders, will sleep outdoors to support the many people who are experiencing homelessness, as well as those at risk of homelessness.

Each CEO Sleep Out participant commits to raising funds and making a donation to help Casa Ioana provide essential services to the people who need them.

Why hold the CEO Sleep Out?

Although the event won’t come close to what it’s like to be homeless (and doesn’t pretend to), it does do three amazing things:

  • raise awareness among business leaders, who often want to do more to tackle the structural causes of inequality after taking part
  • raise funds which is put to use by Casa Ioana at the front line of homelessness and poverty
  • business leaders give up their time and home comforts, to do something for others – and that’s a great thing!

When is the CEO Sleep Out held?

Although World Homeless Day falls on 10th October each year, Casa Ioana’s CEO Sleep Out will begin on Friday, 8th October 2021 and end on Saturday, 9th October 2021.

It is envisaged that the event will take place between 10pm and 6am.

Where is the CEO Sleep Out held?

Two Casa Ioana CEO Sleep Out locations are proposed:

  • Bucharest
  • Cluj-Napoca

The Sleep Out site must provide security, washroom facilities and hot beverages.

A participating CEO could be encouraged to host the event in the grounds of their company premises. Alternatively, the city council might be encouraged to host the event in a suitable location.

The Casa Ioana Association

Celebrating over 25 years of life saving and life-changing work

1995 – 2021

Together we have raised and invested in excess of €2,000,000 in giving NEW BEGINNINGS to

5,394 single adults

6,015 families, Including

7,601 children

More than 500 corporate donors, 10s of 1,000s individual donors and over 450 volunteers joined our efforts and donated more than 9,000 hours

CASA IOANA MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Casa Ioana is different because we address the multiple underlying issues of domestic violence and family homelessness. This highly successful formula provides opportunities for families to emerge from what are desperate circumstances and begin their journey to empowerment and economic self-sufficiency.

Founded in 1995, Casa Ioana is a nongovernmental organisation that empowers survivors of domestic abuse and family homelessness to self-dependency.

Casa Ioana is the leading independent provider of temporary accommodation and comprehensive support in Bucharest. Activities are designed to support survivors from the time they leave their abusers, or come off the streets, to when they feel ready to move on. Providing safe accommodation and help with meals ensures a beneficiary’s physical and personal needs are met, while vital psychosocial support and help with life and job skills enable survivors to be financially independent.

ABOUT OUR ORGANISATION

Casa Ioana meets the needs of beneficiaries by working with public-sector agencies and other service providers. Our focus is on empowering vulnerable families through skills training, job creation and access to affordable housing. Join us so that together we can create new beginnings – free from fear.

We’re on a mission to empower vulnerable families to achieve their full potential. Our families should be able to live in a world – free from fear.

OUR VISION

We envision a better world, where everyone has the right to decent housing, meaningful activities, satisfying relationships and the good health to enjoy life.

OUR MISSION

Together, we aim to make a positive difference in the lives of women and children confronted with domestic abuse and family homelessness.

OUR MANDATE

From skills training to jobs creation to affordable housing – our areas of focus offer a real opportunity to improve the quality of life for thousands of families.

OUR VALUES

 

Respect

We respect the values and the beliefs of the people with and for whom we work and we act in consideration of their situation. We care.

 

Integrity

We adhere to strong principles; we take responsibility for our actions, processes and results, and we expect the same from our stakeholders. We honour our commitments.

 

Collaboration

We believe we are more powerful when we work together within our team and with our partners and volunteers. We all join forces for greater impact.

 

Innovation

We are entrepreneurial; we have the courage and the creativity to pursue unique ideas that have the potential of pushing boundaries. We think outside the box and we make it happen.

 

Fun

We aspire to connect, spread joy and excitement in everything we do. While having fun, we strive to achieve positive and sustainable results.

 

OUR TEAM

The Founder and President of Casa Ioana, is Ian Tilling MBE who directs the organisation and staff team. We have 5 full-time staff, and a team of pro bono professionals and volunteers who provide a vital contribution to all the services we offer.

Staff Team

Ian Tilling – Director (pro bono)

Andreea Gheorghe – General Manager

Nicoleta Dinu – Training Coordinator

Cristina Enache – Principle Social Worker

Kristina Kristof – Practicing Social Worker

 

BOARD OF ADMINISTRATION

The Casa Ioana Association is governed by a board of administration who are volunteers from a diverse range of backgrounds. The board consists of 5 members who commit their skills and experiences to the growth of the organisation, and ensuring services are provided at a high standard.

Board of Administration Members

Mona Opran   Director of Development at Junior Achievement Romania

Oliver Meister  Director at Relario AG, Director at Forsage Holdings

Adriana Sabu Entrepreneur

Phil Bennet      Vice-president at Casa Ioana, Entrepreneur

Ian Tilling        President and director at Casa Ioana

 

WHY DOMESTIC ABUSE AND FAMILY HOMELESSNESS?

Domestic violence affects people across the world and social backgrounds every day, in both normal and crisis situations. UN statistics show that, globally, one in three women is a victim of physical aggression. However, in times of crisis, cases of domestic violence tend to escalate amid high tensions. The current crisis caused by the pandemic is no exception, especially in a country like Romania where, unfortunately, family abuse is often normalised. In 2019, the Romanian police registered 44.094 cases of domestic violence and 51 deaths. This means that a Romanian woman has been killed almost every week.

Statistics from 2018 show that 24% of Romanian women have suffered a form of violence coming from their partner, while 28% of them know other victims amongst their friends and relatives. Only 47% of the surveyed women were aware of the legislation protecting them from domestic violence and 74% were unaware of the existence of a specialised support system.

Over the last year, we’ve witnessed the dangerous merging of domestic violence and homelessness — both of which were problems before the pandemic but have become more urgent since the arrival of the virus. Elevated stress levels have led to an increase in abusive behaviour, while stay-at-home-orders have made it difficult for survivors to seek help. The economic fallout from the virus also is pushing many into joblessness, homelessness, and unsafe environments. As a new generation suffers from the horrors of domestic violence, the effects of the lockdown are likely to continue even after the lifting of movement restrictions.

Housing insecurity is a significant factor in the decision of many victims of domestic violence to remain in abusive relationships and in the continued exposure of too many children to that violence. The lack of affordable housing in Bucharest makes it harder for those experiencing domestic violence to leave the person causing them harm. To break this cycle of violence — a cycle that often extends itself across generations — we are committed to support those most at risk and empower them to create new beginnings – free from fear.

There is no national homelessness data collection strategy and very little data is available. Only general social inclusion indicators are available at national level.

A study conducted in 2004 by the Research Institute for Quality of Life and the National Institute of Statistics, estimated the number of roofless people in Romania at 14,000 -15,000 persons.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2011, however 113,495 ‘marginalised persons’ were registered with the authorities of which:

  • 41,085 did not own or rent a place to live
  • 161,806 lived in inadequate conditions
  • 10,604 were older people without legal guardians or care givers

According to Eurostat, in 2011, 17.1% of the EU-28 population lived in overcrowded dwellings with the highest overcrowding rates registered in Romania (54.2%).

Since 2011, the national census has included homelessness. The latest census reveals that 165,000 people were registered as living in ‘collective’ housing spaces or that they were homeless.

Ian Tilling MBE. – Founder and president at Casa Ioana

Şoseaua Olteniţei 39-41, sector 4, Bucharest 041294

Mobil: + 40 722 629 309  I  Email: ian.tilling@casaioana.org

www.casaioana.org