Funding allocated to expand the availability of community-based social services has been increased by €538,000. As a result, a total of €16 million is available for the fourth round of this measure, including €14 million in financing from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+).
The increase in funding will make it possible to announce a repeated open call for project proposals under the fourth round of the measure as early as April this year. Under this call, both municipal and private social service providers will be able to submit projects aimed at delivering social rehabilitation and respite care services to individuals of the target groups.
This is stipulated by amendments to the Cabinet of Ministers regulations on the implementation of the fourth round of the measure “Increasing the Availability of Community-Based Social Services” under the specific objective of the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme for 2021–2027: “Improving equal and timely access to quality, sustainable and affordable services; strengthening social protection systems, including improving access to social protection; and enhancing the availability, effectiveness and resilience of long-term care services.” The amendments were approved at a Cabinet of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, 24 March.
Minister for Welfare Reinis Uzulnieks emphasises:
“Additional funding of more than half a million euros will make it possible to provide the necessary services to at least 63 more people. This is a significant supplement to the existing support, which currently will reach a total of 1,876 residents across Latvia.”
The amendments also foresees that children with functional impairments and disability status and who live in a family will be able to continue receiving social services within the project even after reaching the age of 18, or in cases where disability status is not re-established.