A Home for a Home

A Home for a Home is a unique partnership between Heimstaden and SOS Children's Villages, which sets a new standard for collaboration, locally in Heimstaden's markets and around the world, and Heimstaden will donate 100 euros for each home they own.

The real estate portfolio is now over 110,000 homes, when this is expanded, the financial contribution will also increase. Over 200 million children grow up without care and security in a family. The partnership with Heimstaden will give many more children and families, all over the world, the opportunity to have a new life.

 

Long-term perspective and experience

Both Heimstaden and SOS Children's Villages work long-term. Heimstaden's vision is to simplify and enrich the lives of residents and customers by offering caring living environments, good and safe homes - Friendly Homes. Building a better society, where people live in harmony and thrive, is something Heimstaden contributes to every day and has done for 23 years. The collaboration will give children all over the world the same opportunity.

 

 

This partnership is so much more than donations. With A Home for a Home, we take our sustainability work to the next level and expand our mission with Friendly Homes to thousands of children and families around the world. We see great opportunities to utilize our broad knowledge and engage our employees and partners, as well as our customers on this exciting journey, says Patrik Hall, CEO of Heimstaden.

SOS Children's Villages has 70 years of experience in childcare worldwide. We support families so that children can still live with their closest caregivers and provide new homes for children who have lost their families or cannot live with them.

More children and families need help now than before the pandemic. We see this both outside and in our programs. More families stay in the program longer, others need support again after managing themselves. Together with Heimstaden, we can make a huge difference, for many children in vulnerable situations, says Sissel Aarak, Secretary General of SOS Children's Villages Norway.

New standard for alliances

The agreement between Heimstaden and SOS Norway was signed in July 2021, and the partnership also involves the SOS Children’s Villages member associations in several countries in Europe, including Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland Czech Republic. Heimstaden and SOS Children's Villages' 

ambition is to set a new standard for collaboration with innovative activities both locally in countries where Heimstadens is established, and in global SOS programs. The goal is to give even more children, young people, and families a foundation on which they can build, which means that they become resourceful and in turn contribute to development in their society.

 

Examples of programs A Home for a Home will support

SOS Children's Villages will use the funds in existing and new programs in ESAF and LAAM - where the needs right now are enormous. In addition, the partnership means that Heimstaden and SOS Children's Villages will collaborate on local projects in the countries in which Heimstaden operates.

Family program

Every child needs someone to support and protect them when they grow up. However, many parents face difficulties that prevent them from providing adequate care. SOS Children's Villages offers tailored support to strengthen families who are having difficulty and helps the children to continue living with their biological family. Through counseling to raise skills, parents get the resources they need to overcome difficulties. With strong families, children and young people can get the care and support they need to thrive.

 

Foster home program

Children need trusting and long-lasting relationships in life. If a child cannot grow up in his own family, it is necessary to find good solutions for alternative care to give the child a stable home and an opportunity to create lasting relationships. Foster families receive housing and professional help through the SOS Children's Villages program.

 
 
 
Youth program

Growing up is not always easy and even more difficult for those who do not receive support from their own family. SOS Children's Villages give young people the opportunity to acquire the skills they need to get a job and manage on their own. They can have access to education, training, and guidance to develop knowledge, self-confidence, and resilience. Together we work to build a better tomorrow, where no one is left behind.

Co-created activities

Heimstaden wants to contribute with more than just money. Through co-created activities our two organizations can join forces and develop new projects to reach more children in local communities where Heimstaden is present, by deriving on our diverse competences, capacities, and engagement. The initiatives can vary from playgrounds to lobby projects in support of children’s rights, and they all aim at having real tangible impact for many kids in the countries where Heimstaden is established.