What it is
Approdo is a socially innovative project in favour of women who are the victims of violence, offering temporary and semi-protected stays and aimed at paving the way for enfranchisement.

Who it’s for/What its aims are
The Approdo project concerns a shelter which can be defined first level (therefore straight after emergency) for Italian and foreign women with legal immigration status who are the victims of violence or abuse in an emergency housing situation and coming from four Accident and Emergency Wards of the city (from the Molinette, Sant’Anna, Gradenigo and Maria Vittoria hospitals). In view of the characteristics of the shelter and the other resources in the area, Approdo intends to only take in women who are not in the company of children, who are not being persecuted and without overt psychological pathologies and/or drug abuse.

What it does
Approdo’s aim is to develop a network that gives the project an integrated character, from first entry, follow-through,  help in seeking new resources (housing, health, social, work) for women committed to freedom from violence.
The women involved are directed to Residenza Maria Luisa, a flat for eight in Torino which meets the needs to offer hospitality and practical, sensible help. Stays vary from few days to six months, depending on cases. Physical and psychological help is provided, as well as training and help in finding work and accommodation.

Qualifying elements
•    Direct access (instruments) for the women who are victims of violence
•    Collaboration between hospitals and members of the third sector
Period of activity
From September 2008

Where it operates
City of Torino

Partners
The Bodies taking part in the project are the Compagnia di San Paolo in the role of promoting, financing and supervising the initiative; the Ufficio Pio di San Paolo granting the Emergency Funds for personal expenses and for other apprenticeship programmes regarding training and work for women; the IPAB Casa Benefica in its role in managing housing resources, in co-ordinating the activities within the residence and the educational help for the women; the Associazione Volontarie del Telefono Rosa Onlus in its role co-ordinating the activities carried out by the women outside the residence and expected as part of their personal path and consulting in the legal and psychological field. The project also avails itself the expertise of doctors of the San Giovanni Battista, Sant’Anna, Maria Vittoria and Gradenigo Hospitals of Torino.
Monitoring and evaluation
Conducted by a researcher who is on the Department for Social Sciences of the University of Torino.
Connection with other initiatives
Collaboration for pychological and/or psychiatric support with the Dafne project and with the Centro Mamre. The project is related to the Call Center Service of the Comune di Torino, as well as part of a network of second level shelters (eg: Donne e Futuro). These collaborations were fomalised in 2011.
Data on subjects involved
51 women between the ages of 14 and 65 have taken part in the project since 2008, thus divided: 5 in 2008, 11 in 2009, 17 in 2011, 10 in the first 6 months of 2012 between the ages of 24 and 75. In the first half of 2012 6 women terminated their stay with Approdo.

Internet site
The project does not have its own Internet site, as it is essential to ensure guests’ privacy.