Metzineres. Environments of Shelter for Womxn who Use Drugs Surviving Violences is the first integrated harm reduction program from Catalonia exclusively for women. With holistic and individualized scopes tailored to the particularities of anybody, it offers direct and immediate access to flexible proposals in accordance with women´s expectations, disquietudes, curiosities, interests and needs. Throughout an innovatively daring grassroots intervention model, unfolded in Environments of Shelter, sustained by community-based strategies anchored in human rights and gender mainstreaming, that prove reliable, pragmatic, cost-effective, where every woman is a protagonist.
Metzineres is displayed by Environments of Shelter where they may take part and wander in virtue of their demands of wellbeing, circumstances, ambivalences, mutable degrees of involvement and entrust for accompaniment. It is about mitigating possibilities of failure as to avoid revictimization or secondary traumatisation.
Environment for healing, training and recovery
The Meanwhile is open to all WUDSV, with a refreshing agenda of training, occupational, cultural and leisure activities. Easing basic needs, giving social health careness and deploying a wide range of choices for self-healing, bonding, wisdom sharing, self-defence, solidarity and mutual support, whilst seeking to enhance technical proficiency and advocacy.
Environment for productivity
The Plucky fosters professional worth, entrepreneurship and job opportunities satisfying to WUDSV that challenge hampering labour markets, stimulates employability with regular steady incomes, and potentiates skills, boosts self-sufficiency, inspires personal growth.
Environment for housing
The Cover becomes secure housing that invites serenity, intimacy, rest and protection for WUDSV in situation of homelessness or that have run from home, laying at their will a whole range of therapeutic elements to propitiate stability.
Last update: October 1st, 2021
| Cis Woman | 235 | 82.4% |
| Transgender woman | 35 | 12.2% |
| Intersexual | 2 | 0.7% |
| Non binary | 4 | 1.4% |
| No info | 9 | 3.1% |
| From 20 to 29 years old | 41 | 14.3% |
| From 30 to 39 years old | 81 | 28.4% |
| From 40 to 49 years old | 78 | 27.3% |
| From 50 to 59 years old | 39 | 13.6% |
| 60 or older | 11 | 3.8% |
| No info | 35 | 12.2% |
| Adult over 55 years old | 20 | 7.87% |
| Young | 43 | 16.93% |
| Migratory experience | 100 | 39.37% |
| Irregular administrative situation | 33 | 12.99% |
| Functional diversity | 22 | 8.66% |
| Racialized | 53 | 20.87% |
| LGTBIQ | 59 | 23.23% |
| Sexual worker | 50 | 19.69% |
| Sex for survival | 60 | 23.62% |
| Problems related to drug use | 188 | 74.02% |
| Ranks of mental health | 118 | 46.46% |
| Homeless | 179 | 70.47% |
| Without cover | 104 | 40.94% |
| Imprisonment | 84 | 33.07% |
| Others | 7 | 2.76% |
| Coinfection HIV + HCV | 21 | 8.27% |
| La VidAlegre | 18424 | 84.46% |
| Outside activity | 1960 | 8.99% |
| Shelter | 14 | 0.06% |
| Street | 654 | 3.00% |
| Telephone | 1675 | 7.68% |
| Social media | 158 | 0.72% |
| Home address | 36 | 0.17% |
| Hospital | 2 | 0.01% |
| Prison | 5 | 0.02% |
| XADUD | 1029 | 4.72% |
| Other | 1399 | 6.41% |
| Condoms | 423 | 1.94% |
| Food | 18906 | 86.67% |
| Sleep by day | 2389 | 10.95% |
| Shower | 2727 | 12.50% |
| Housing | 520 | 2.38% |
| Image | 2041 | 9.36% |
| NSP | 752 | 3.45% |
| Washing / drying machine | 1214 | 5.57% |
| Clothing swap | 1968 | 9.02% |
| Thelephone/ Internet | 4061 | 18.62% |
| Transport | 413 | 1.89% |
| Chat / Mutual suport | 13385 | 61.36% |
Total women that participated: 192
Different activities: 36
| Art and creativity | 592 | 41.03% |
| Self-protection and empowering | 128 | 8.87% |
| Community and neighborhood | 88 | 6.10% |
| Care and healing | 212 | 14.69% |
| Participation and activism | 398 | 27.58% |
| Production and entrepreneurship | 323 | 22.38% |
| Approach to sexual work | 838 | 3.65% |
| Accompaniment | 514 | 2.24% |
| Counseling / Information | 2144 | 9.35% |
| "ConSumo Cuidado" | 5968 | 26.01% |
| Active listening | 21897 | 95.45% |
| Contact with family abd/or partner | 413 | 1.80% |
| Conflict resolution | 781 | 3.40% |
| Followup | 17883 | 77.95% |
| Emotional support | 11618 | 50.64% |
| Addressing violences | 2272 | 9.90% |
| Accompaniment | 135 | 1.44% |
| Anamnesis | 2418 | 25.79% |
| Attention in street | 8 | 0.09% |
| Consultation | 4645 | 49.55% |
| Cure | 988 | 10.54% |
| Domiciliary visit | 17 | 0.18% |
| Unexpected effects of consumption | 23 | 0.25% |
| Followup | 7427 | 79.22% |
| Overdose | 15 | 0.16% |
| Treatment | 5453 | 58.17% |
| Urgency | 140 | 1.49% |
| Acompaniment | 102 | 7.05% |
| Family contact | 12 | 0.83% |
| Derivation | 67 | 4.63% |
| Initial interview | 147 | 10.17% |
| Employability | 12 | 0.83% |
| Followup on site | 147 | 10.17% |
| Follow-up of the case (articulation with other RSS feeds) | 623 | 43.08% |
| Followup on telephone | 111 | 7.68% |
| Tracking | 580 | 40.11% |
| Procedures | 136 | 9.41% |
| Visit in other places | 7 | 0.48% |
| Domiciliary visit or other places of residence or stay | 17 | 1.18% |
External coordination: 1381
External derivation: 189
| Other | 834 | 53.02% |
| Social rights | 31 | 1.97% |
| Drugs | 256 | 16.27% |
| Gender | 170 | 10.81% |
| Legal-criminal | 21 | 1.34% |
| Labour market | 12 | 0.76% |
| Health | 79 | 5.02% |
| Mental health | 23 | 1.46% |
| Homelessness | 322 | 20.47% |
60 Unique women. 21.05% from all women registered
| Familiar environment | 36 |
| consultar revisar | 18 |
| Nearby environment | 7 |
| Social care system | 3 |
| Judicial system | 2 |
5 Unique women. 1.75% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Sexual aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Rape | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Verbal aggression | 2 | 0.70% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 1 | 0.35% |
| Family breakdown | 2 | 0.70% |
| Criminalization | 2 | 0.70% |
| Family intrusion | 1 | 0.35% |
| Vulnerability confidentiality / intimacy | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological abuse | 2 | 0.70% |
| Stigma | 2 | 0.70% |
1 Unique women. 0.35% from all women registered
| Sexual aggressions | 1 | 0.35% |
4 Unique women. 1.40% from all women registered
| Electricity cut | 1 | 0.35% |
| Eviction | 2 | 0.70% |
82 Unique women. 28.77% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 68 | 23.86% |
| Physical abuse | 4 | 1.40% |
| Sexual aggressions | 13 | 4.56% |
| Rape | 9 | 3.16% |
| Psychological aggressions | 62 | 21.75% |
| Verbal aggression | 47 | 16.49% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 23 | 8.07% |
| Other | 16 | 5.61% |
| Psychological abuse | 9 | 3.16% |
| Stigma | 1 | 0.35% |
| Harassment | 3 | 1.05% |
| Social isolation | 1 | 0.35% |
40 Unique women. 14.04% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 20 | 7.02% |
| Physical abuse | 2 | 0.70% |
| Sexual aggressions | 7 | 2.46% |
| Rape | 6 | 2.11% |
| Psychological aggressions | 15 | 5.26% |
| Verbal aggression | 16 | 5.61% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 9 | 3.16% |
| Other | 9 | 3.16% |
| Criminalization | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological abuse | 2 | 0.70% |
| Stigma | 4 | 1.40% |
| Harassment | 5 | 1.75% |
| Sexual harassment | 1 | 0.35% |
| Social isolation | 1 | 0.35% |
| Health care inattention | 1 | 0.35% |
35 Unique women. 12.28% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 21 | 7.37% |
| Physical abuse | 1 | 0.35% |
| Sexual aggressions | 10 | 3.51% |
| Rape | 10 | 3.51% |
| Psychological aggressions | 6 | 2.11% |
| Verbal aggression | 7 | 2.46% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 4 | 1.40% |
| Other | 9 | 3.16% |
| Family breakdown | 1 | 0.35% |
| Criminalization | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological abuse | 1 | 0.35% |
| Stigma | 6 | 2.11% |
| Harassment | 2 | 0.70% |
| Sexual harassment | 1 | 0.35% |
26 Unique women. 9.12% from all women registered
| Other | 6 | 2.11% |
| Family intrusion | 7 | 2.46% |
| Vulnerability confidentiality / intimacy | 10 | 3.51% |
| Psychological abuse | 3 | 1.05% |
| Not supporting idiomatic barriers | 5 | 1.75% |
| Stigma | 20 | 7.02% |
| Ignorance of complaints, demands, complaints or requests | 16 | 5.61% |
33 Unique women. 11.58% from all women registered
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 1 | 0.35% |
| Other | 6 | 2.11% |
| Criminalization | 1 | 0.35% |
| Family intrusion | 1 | 0.35% |
| Vulnerability confidentiality / intimacy | 9 | 3.16% |
| Psychological abuse | 2 | 0.70% |
| Not supporting idiomatic barriers | 4 | 1.40% |
| Stigma | 19 | 6.67% |
| Ignorance of complaints, demands, complaints or requests | 5 | 1.75% |
| Health care inattention | 3 | 1.05% |
| Pregnancy / maternity in prison | 1 | 0.35% |
| Mechanical containment | 3 | 1.05% |
23 Unique women. 8.07% from all women registered
| Psychological aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Other | 4 | 1.40% |
| Institutionalization | 1 | 0.35% |
| Criminalization | 4 | 1.40% |
| Psychological abuse | 1 | 0.35% |
| Preventive prison | 2 | 0.70% |
| Security deposit / fine unavailable | 6 | 2.11% |
| Disproportionate condemnation | 11 | 3.86% |
| Multiple short jails | 5 | 1.75% |
| False conviction | 2 | 0.70% |
| Stigma | 11 | 3.86% |
| Inadequate defense | 6 | 2.11% |
| Social isolation | 1 | 0.35% |
| Ignorance of complaints, demands, complaints or requests | 3 | 1.05% |
| Denial of permits and penitentiary benefits | 1 | 0.35% |
25 Unique women. 8.77% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 5 | 1.75% |
| Physical abuse | 1 | 0.35% |
| Sexual aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Rape | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological aggressions | 6 | 2.11% |
| Verbal aggression | 4 | 1.40% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 1 | 0.35% |
| Other | 4 | 1.40% |
| Criminalization | 1 | 0.35% |
| Psychological abuse | 1 | 0.35% |
| Stigma | 5 | 1.75% |
| Harassment | 6 | 2.11% |
| Access to treatment as a form of coercion | 2 | 0.70% |
| Eviction | 3 | 1.05% |
| Ignorance of complaints, demands, complaints or requests | 1 | 0.35% |
| Fined for COVID19 | 2 | 0.70% |
22 Unique women. 7.72% from all women registered
| Physical aggressions | 3 | 1.05% |
| Sexual aggressions | 1 | 0.35% |
| Rape | 2 | 0.70% |
| Psychological aggressions | 2 | 0.70% |
| Verbal aggression | 2 | 0.70% |
| Unjustified deprivation / limitation of resources | 2 | 0.70% |
| Other | 6 | 2.11% |
| Institutionalization | 3 | 1.05% |
| Criminalization | 7 | 2.46% |
| Psychological abuse | 3 | 1.05% |
| Preventive prison | 1 | 0.35% |
| Disproportionate condemnation | 2 | 0.70% |
| Multiple short jails | 2 | 0.70% |
| Stigma | 10 | 3.51% |
| Inadequate defense | 1 | 0.35% |
| Access to treatment as a form of coercion | 3 | 1.05% |
| Social isolation | 9 | 3.16% |
| Ignorance of complaints, demands, complaints or requests | 5 | 1.75% |
| Health care inattention | 5 | 1.75% |
| Scatter | 2 | 0.70% |
| Barriers to PMM access | 2 | 0.70% |
| Indigence in prison | 5 | 1.75% |
| Prison isolation | 2 | 0.70% |
| Withdrawal of custody | 3 | 1.05% |
| Denial of permits and penitentiary benefits | 4 | 1.40% |
| Threats and / or coercion | 8 | 2.81% |
| Torture or vexatious treatment | 3 | 1.05% |
| Fined for COVID19 | 1 | 0.35% |
The transcendence of the almost 40 daily accompaniments undertaken by Metzineres, committing to heart warmth the wellbeing of more than 220 brave women, currently participating in the project, has shown along the two years of implementation, extraordinary results, exceeding our best expectations.
Despite the broad commitment of all of us in Metzineres, the countless alliances linked to the social and solidarity economy as well as the multiple visits from around the world to get to know our approach model, the lack of funding and infrastructure endanger put at risk our Shelter Environments.
For these reasons we call on institutions, philanthropic communities, entities, companies, movements and individuals with whom we share common ideals and objectives, to show their support and solidarity, willing to activate support within networks that may guarantee the sustainability of Metzineres.
Metzineres is a collective of 250 women and gender non comforming people in multiple situations of vulnerability, 90% of us are surviving multiple violences, half of us are homeless and 70% have problems related to drugs, legal and illegal.
Beyond the risks that we live in our day to day life and the harm reduction measures that we are already adopting (COVID19 HARM REACTION guide. In Metzis we don’t want Corona) we want to highlight the complexity of our reality so it can be contemplated in the social, health and economic measures applied to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We prioritize access to safe confinement, which respects our human rights, with a feminist approach, taking into account intersectionality and harm reduction. That would allow us to maintain our link with the environment, the companions and the social and health professionals we trust. Respectful of our habits and committed to our empowerment and well-being.
We want to be able to take care of ourselves, access our belongings and give continuity to our treatments, especially those of us living with mental health disorders. Those of us who are in active consumption want to reduce risks and not go through forced abstinence. Also, if we do sex work or sex for survival we want to be able to protect ourselves.
These days, measures have been deployed aimed at us that, although well-intentioned, they are not adapt to our circumstances, in some cases even retraumatizing us and violating our rights.
In order to alleviate and redirect those responses that are reproducing stigma and discrimination, we present the following recommendations:
Nothing About Us Without Us
Full text available here.
"Amb molts pocs diners salvem vides". Report in Vilaweb, reference media in Catalonia. [catalan]
"Metzineres: shelter and empowering women who use drugs, survivors of violence". Article in Innovative approaches in drug policies and Incarceration. [english]
