Helsinki announced earlier this summer that new premises had been found for Symppis Itäkeskus. In the end, no lease agreement was concluded, however.
Services are secured
The city is now actively looking for new day activity premises. However, finding and modifying replacement facilities suitable for Symppi’s services will take time. Before new premises can be made available, statutory services for clients are provided in other units.
“We will provide statutory health counselling services to the clients of Symppis Itäkeskus with a mobile unit in the future,” says Mikko Tamminen, director of housing, crisis and substance abuse services.
“We will provide more information on this as soon as we know where the replacement premises for Symppis Itäkeskus will be located in the future and when the services will be made available there,” Mikko Tamminen continues.
Personnel are involved
Mikko Tamminen says that discussions related to the changes are currently being held with Symppis’ employees. Everyone will continue to work as usual after the turn of the year. The personnel will also be involved in planning the replacement facilities for Symppis Itäkeskus in the future.
Services for Symppis’ clients
Symppis is a low-threshold day activity centre for substance abusers, which also offers health and social counselling services. Symppis Itäkeskus is one of the three locations. Other units in Kontula and Sörnäinen will continue to operate in the same way as before, also after the turn of the year.
In addition, there is the Mobile Symppis health counselling point that provides services throughout the city. The schedule and stops of mobile health counselling can be found on the city’s website.
Services of day activity centres
- Health and social counselling
- Possibility to have a meal
- Needle and syringe exchange service and information on safe injection practices
- HIV and HCV rapid tests, STD tests and pregnancy tests
- Vaccines
- Assessment of treatment need
- Possibility to see a doctor on a weekly basis
- Employment, peer and volunteer activities
Services of mobile units
- Health and social counselling
- Needle and syringe exchange service and information on safe injection practices
- HIV and HCV rapid tests
- Assessment of treatment need
- Peer activities