Support and inclusion of people experiencing homelessness is the topic of the AGIR Award 2024

The applications for the 11^th edition of the AGIR Award are now open. This year the award is dedicated to the Support and Inclusion of People Experiencing Homelessness. The selection of this topic for the AGIR Award demonstrates REN's recognition that this is an increasingly pressing challenge.

The number of people experiencing homelessness has increased by 78% since 2019, according to data from the Portuguese National Strategy for the Integration of Homeless People, released in 2023. Studies on this phenomenon show that the typical profile of a person experiencing homelessness is becoming increasingly diverse, requiring a broader range of responses from civil society.

The AGIR Award is part of REN’s policy of engagement with the Community and Social Innovation, and seeks to support structural projects with real impact rather than solely monetary benefits. AGIR also aims to increase the visibility of projects, which can be useful for gathering additional support.

Applications can be submitted at www.stone-soup.net from March 1^st to April 30^th and the announcement of the winning projects will be made in early 2025.

The selection of the three best applications is the responsibility of REN, in partnership with STONE SOUP, the entity accompanying and monitoring the use of the funds donated to each supported project, as well as assessing the actual social impact of the granted support. The winner of the first prize is granted a monetary sum of thirty thousand euros, the second fifteen thousand euros, and the third, five thousand euros.

The most recent editions of the AGIR Award were dedicated to the topics of “Promotion of sustainable development” (2023), “Promotion of the environment, biodiversity, and combating climate change” (2022), “Social Innovation in response to COVID-19” (2021), “Promotion of Employment for People in Vulnerable Situations” (2020), “Promotion of Academic Success and Combating Early School Leaving” (2019), “Natural heritage preservation” (2018), “Labour Inclusion of People with Disabilities” (2017), “Fighting Poverty and Social Exclusion” (2016), “Active Aging” (2015), and “Job Creation” (2014).