With the Project on Increasing Access to Social Services (SOHEP), the Ministry of Family and Social Services aims to increase the access of children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities, temporary and internationally protected individuals to quality social services, and to improve protective and preventive services for disadvantaged persons.

In cooperation with the Ministry and the EU Delegation to Türkiye, SOHEP, budget of which was met by the EU with direct grant method, was launched on 17 December 2020, under the coordination of the Directorate General of Family and Community Services, within the scope of the "Financial Assistance Program for Refugees in Türkiye".

A total of 16 Social Service Centres (SHM) were opened in Hatay, İzmir, Mersin, Antalya, Adana, Balıkesir, Düzce, İstanbul, Kırıkkale, Osmaniye and Aydın within the scope of the project, which aims to increase the access of children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities and internationally protected individuals to quality social services.

Within the framework of the project, it is planned to provide training to 3,000 personnel working in SHMs in order to improve services in the upcoming period.

"Skill Studios" are being established in Day Care Centres

In order to increase access to services for children, activities are carried out with mobile service vehicles in settlements where there are no Child Protection Units and SHMs, and 75 Child Protection Units are also aimed to be renewed.

A "Day Care and Active Life Centre" was opened in Mersin within the scope of SOHEP, in order to enhance the quality of life of older persons by enriching their social relations and to provide day care services to older persons in need of care. Work continues to open 5 centres that will provide the same service in Adana, Hatay, Şanlıurfa, Bursa and Osmaniye.

"Skill Studios" are established in all Day Care Centres to develop existing and new skills. The centres offer daily care services, counselling, solidarity and rehabilitation services to older persons. With these centres, it is aimed that older persons and their families have access to quality and free services that meet their needs and demands.

Within the scope of the aforementioned project, it is planned to renovate women's shelters and Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centres, which serve to empower women economically, psychologically, legally and socially.

In addition, in order to reduce the trauma of war and terror victims and their families, the beneficiaries will be provided with the Family Education Program and Basic Life Skills Trainings as part of awareness training.