Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The capital is implementing numerous projects to improve the quality of social services for Muscovites in need of special care and attention. One of these is the organization of supported living for young adults with disabilities aged 18 and older who are not yet able to live independently but want to lead a full life at home and achieve independence in the future.
Since 2021, the Gurevsky Supported Living Center has been equipped with 34 training apartments. Here, young Muscovites learn everyday skills, budgeting, and navigating the city. The project's development is being reported on on its channel. MAX messenger Sergei Sobyanin said.
"The center is home to over 150 residents. Around 20 percent of them successfully combine work and study. They work at My Documents centers, hospices, food service establishments, and delivery services. Over the course of the project, 123 young people, 43 of whom are graduates of the Gurevsky center, have moved into their own homes and are living independently. Graduates of the program continue to receive specialist support for five years in managing their daily lives, finding employment, and protecting their rights," wrote the Moscow Mayor.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin's channel in MAX messenger
Individual support programs
Specialists develop an individual support program for each project participant. Training in independent living skills lasts from one to five years, and 34 training apartments have been equipped for this purpose. Of these, 21 apartments have been donated or independently leased by seven non-profit organizations that are partners in the program. These include the Life Path Charitable Foundation, the Yablochko Regional Public Organization for the Promotion of Social Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, the Bolshaya Peremena Charitable Foundation for the Promotion of Education for Orphans, the Emerald City Regional Charitable Public Organization for Persons with Disabilities Adaptation and Development Center, the Special Childhood Regional Charitable Public Organization and Therapeutic Pedagogics Center, the Social "House with a Lighthouse" Charitable Private Institution for Comprehensive Social Services, and the Krug Creative Association Charitable Foundation.
The programme also extends to young people with disabilities living in urban social housing.
During their studies, young people with mental disabilities acquire skills in the rational use of housing and communal services resources, personal budgeting and expense planning, independent city navigation, and effective time management.
Participants who successfully complete the assessment transition to independent living in regular city apartments, with specialist support reduced to four hours per week. Over the next five years, program graduates can receive assistance with managing their daily lives, employment, education, and protecting their civil rights.
In addition, day care centers for people with mental disabilities have opened at the city's social housing facilities and the Gurevsky Center, where they can attend classes and return home in the evening. This offers residents with disabilities an opportunity to socialize with others, become more independent, and learn new skills.
Since 2021, representatives from 68 regions of the Russian Federation have visited the Gurevsky Supported Living Center in Moscow. Similar supported living programs, based on Moscow's experience, are being implemented in St. Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod.
New opportunities for students
In addition to everyday and professional adaptation, important components of the young people's daily lives include sports, creativity, and travel. These activities help participants discover their talents, gain self-confidence, and learn to work in a team.
Since 2021, the Gurevsky Foxes hockey team has twice been awarded the Adaptive Hockey Federation's highest award, the Gold Standard. And in the spring of 2025, at the 6th All-Russian Adaptive Hockey Festival in Sochi, the team won three consecutive victories.
The center is also developing adaptive figure skating. This August, with the support of the "I Am!" foundation, actress Ksenia Alferova, and coach Maria Orlova, the "Amazing Skates" project was launched. Its goal is not just training but also the inclusion of this discipline in the All-Russian Register of Sports and the unified calendar of sporting events.
Particular attention is paid to creative direction. For the second year in a row, the vocal ensemble "Kurazh" won the Grand Prix at the international festival "By the Black Sea" in the "Pop Vocal" category, remaining the only inclusive group among the festival's participants.
Recently, with the support of the Pro Serdtsa Foundation, a year-long art program was launched, curated by Evgenia Shtil, director of the New Urban Artists project. Upon completion of the program, the participants' works will be exhibited in a Moscow gallery.
In addition, the "We're Off!" club is open to travel enthusiasts. Its members have already completed hiking tours in Sakhalin, Magadan, and the Caucasus. Their experiences have been published in the magazine "Around the World" and the portal "Under the Backpack."
Inclusive Award "People Live!"
Two years ago, the awards ball for graduates of Moscow's social housing was transformed into an annual inclusive awards ceremony, "People Live, But They Do!", organized by the Gurevsky Supported Living Center. It brings together the art, creativity, and achievements of young people with mental disabilities, giving them the opportunity to showcase their individuality and success. Last year, 250 young people participated in the event, performing creative pieces. Preparations for these pieces were conducted over several months at the center through classes, lectures, and workshops. The fourth ceremony is scheduled for November.
The award's business program is also developing. Last year, the "UnConference: 'People Are Alive!'" event was held as part of the interregional conference "Matrix of Positive Change." It brought together 450 participants (including 150 in person and 300 online) and served as a practical platform for open dialogue between experts, activists, and young people with mental disabilities. Participants discussed real success stories, shared experiences, and outlined concrete steps for promoting inclusion in the urban environment.
This year, leading experts and speakers from Moscow, St. Petersburg, the Pskov and Nizhny Novgorod regions, and other regions have been invited to participate in the "UnConference," confirming the award's status as an important platform for developing inclusive social policy in Russia.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.