The Person-Centred Approach

At Mazí, we build and maintain communities while nurturing individual growth and personal freedom. 

Homelessness is complex and frustrating; it has many different causes and therefore requires different solutions. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Placing people in housing is not an end-game; it does not change the social or political context surrounding them, nor change the tools or keys each person has to navigate this. Mazí offers housing first with person-centred support because, as a combination of support, it works.

Everyone has their own background and their own set of experiences. It is precisely because people are different, face different challenges, and experience homelessness for different reasons, that a multifaceted and person-centred approach is needed. It is the most practical way to support someone meaningfully in a changing and complex environment. So what does it look like?

Radical Empathy, within Boundaries

We work to understand an individual’s experience from their perspective, and to view them as the expert in their own life in control of its direction. It means understanding that each resident: 

• Is intelligent, capable and skilled – strong in his own way

• Has the right to make informed choices, because only he must live with the consequences

• Can and will take responsibility for himself, his living space and his situation

• Can and will develop towards their full potential, with the right support and environment

Person-Centred 101: how do we do this?