Impact Ventures and Slovenská Sporiteľňa Will Provide 400 Thousand Euros to the Dedo Foundation for Establishing Clinics for People Experiencing Homelessness

Through a unique partnership between the civic and financial sectors, the DEDO Foundation has gained €400,000 to support the construction and equipment of two health-social clinics for people experiencing homelessness. The funding will be provided by the Impact Ventures fund and Slovenská sporiteľňa. 

This marks an exceptional use of repayable financing in the field of social innovation in Slovakia, enabling the expansion of a systemic approach to homelessness. The two new integrated health-social centers in Košice and Prešov will provide comprehensive services, healthcare, and psychosocial support to people facing housing and social insecurity. Slovenská sporiteľňa will contribute €250,000 and Impact Ventures will provide the remaining €150,000. 

“For the Impact Ventures fund, seeing the positive result is essential, and the DEDO Foundation is a clear example of a social innovation that has profound significance for the society and changes lives,” said Martina Kolesárová, Co-CEO of the Pontis Foundation and managing director of Pontis Impact. 

“We believe that connecting housing with healthcare is key to real change. These clinics are an essential link in the chain that helps people without a home regain not only a roof over their heads, but also dignity and a future,” added Michaela Viskupičová, investment manager at Impact Ventures—a joint project of Pontis Impact, CB ESPRI, and Dubec Ventures. The fund supports startups, companies, social enterprises, and civic organizations with positive social or environmental aims. 

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The unique cooperation behind financing the health-social clinics project represents an exemplary partnership between a socially oriented bank and a fund. As part of the Erste Group, Slovenská sporiteľňa has long supported social enterprises and initiatives with positive societal value through its social banking program. “We have long considered the DEDO Foundation to be one of the most innovative actors in ending homelessness in Slovakia. Their integrated approach has both human and systemic importance. We are glad to contribute to the development of this groundbreaking project,” said Richard Fekete, specialist for the nonprofit and social economy sectors at Slovenská sporiteľňa. 

A Systemic Solution: From Housing and Employment to Healthcare

The DEDO Foundation has been active in Košice and Prešov since 1997. It was the first in Slovakia to introduce the Housing First model and has spent years building an integrated support system that includes housing, employment, and health-social care. Thanks to this approach, dozens of families have been able to escape the cycle of homelessness. 

“Health is an often overlooked but key element not only in ending homelessness. People in housing and social need face multiple barriers, and prevention or medical care are inaccessible to them. At the same time, we recognize the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing their needs. This is why, based on research and data, we are gradually building a network of service organizations within the DEDO Foundation and creating an integrated systemic solution from housing and professional support to supported employment and healthcare or respite services,” said Alena Vachnová, chair of the board of the DEDO Foundation. 

Supporting clinics for people in housing and social insecurity represents another step toward creating an effective, dignified, efficient, and sustainable support system for the most vulnerable groups in Slovakia.