While the project builds upon previous research conducted by the MoLSA, the Platform for Social Housing and other organisations, it covers a previously unexplored field since no legislation that specifically focuses on access to housing has yet been introduced in the Czech Republic. The project employs a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, in particular qualitative interviews, longitudinal case studies of selected ORPs, repeated questionnaire surveys involving social workers and their managers, the statistical analysis of administrative data and a participatory approach with the involvement of the various actors in the field. The project will analyse data obtained from applications for subsidies from the MoLSA recorded in the registration system.

The research will analyse in particular the capacities and qualifications of housing contact point personnel, the various relationships between the key actors, requirements for the development and methodological support of housing assistance and the impacts on the staffing of the social work agenda. The project time schedule will allow for the study of the preparations for, and the first phase of, the introduction of the legislation and the monitoring of emerging organisational patterns and their impact on the settings of the services provided, especially housing assistance, and propose recommendations concerning the documentation required for the in-time revision of the methodological materials and the legislative measures themselves. 

The research results will serve as the basis for decision-making by the MoLSA, the compilation of methodological materials and the amendment of legal regulations related to the introduction of the social housing agenda, including interlinkages with other legislative and strategic documentation, including the Social Services Act, the social housing concept and the social inclusion strategy. The project outputs will also serve to expand the existing knowledge base on the functioning of social work in municipalities and contribute to the professional debate on the role of social workers in the social reform process.

The main objective of the project is to contribute – through international research teams and the use of advanced scientific methods – to expanding and deepening knowledge in the areas of labour market-macroeconomic policy interactions, socioeconomic inequalities, societal links to business, the green transformation, and development economics. The individual research activities will build on an interdisciplinary approach and international cooperation in order to achieve high quality and global impact. The project employs modern quantitative and qualitative methods of basic research, such as econometric analyses, experiments, and case studies, to generate new insights and innovative solutions in these key domains.

The project is firmly grounded in the current state of scientific knowledge and seeks to advance it further through original approaches and the integration of diverse research topics. Each output will be published in reputable international academic journals, ensuring its novelty, contribution, and high quality. Emphasis is placed on an innovative approach that connects different research areas and offers new perspectives on complex issues.

The project therefore aims to determine how common the problem is, what is the degree of reduction in the ability to work of patients with this diagnosis, what are the possibilities for their support and the experience of Labour office workers with (re)integration of these patients into the labour market. Based on a comparison with the experience with this issue in Germany, another goal is to assess the adequacy of available measures in the Czech Republic and the need to include long covid among the recognized diagnoses for granting disability.

Within the framework of the project, research was conducted on the following topics:

• young carers (2025–2026);
• evaluation of grant schemes of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs supporting family-oriented and pro-/senior-focused non-profit organisations (2024–2027);
• underage mothers (2024–2025);
• low-income families with children (2024);
• availability of data in the field of family behaviour and family policy (2023).

The output of the project will be, among other things, the production of a comprehensive “Report on Seniors in the Czech Republic”, a data-driven probe into key areas of the quality of life of seniors as defined in the government priorities and tasks set out in STRAPS and the follow-up Action Plan. Here the project will focus primarily on monitoring the achievement of targets in areas defined in STRAPS, in particular:
1. the area of preparation for ageing (age mainstreaming)
2. human rights of the older persons
3. education and employment
4. health and care
5. topical issues arising from social, political, economic or environmental change: the impact of the energy crisis, intergenerational relations, ensuring access to and protection of human rights, discrimination, digitalisation and its impact, change in the labour market due to economic change, resilience, active citizenship, gerontological literacy including preparation for ageing, and other issues that may emerge as topical and whose existence cannot be predicted, but whose existence can be forecast from recent experience.

The data base will consist of three pillars:
1) analysis of available administrative and statistical data (family accounts, etc.).
2) secondary analyses of available social science datasets (SILC, SHARE, sociological surveys)
3) original data sources “Life in old age after 20 years” (comparative study with 1992 data); quantitative surveys on topical issues according to dynamic social needs; qualitative surveys (focus groups) to cover topics relevant to qualitative approaches.

The findings will be used in the context of the foreseen update of the strategy “Strategic Framework for Preparing for an Ageing Society 2026–2030” and its follow-up Action Plan.

The results will be discussed on an ongoing basis with the professional community through conference presentations, ad hoc roundtables and public consultations.

The results will be used in the MoLSA’s communication with the public (press releases, cabinet statements on adjustments to existing policies or on newly introduced measures, etc.).

Topics are selected according to the current needs of the client.

Within the framework of the project, research was conducted on the following topics:

• supervised contact (2025);
• foster care in public opinion (2024);
• causes and contexts of child placement outside the family (2023–2024);
• identification of barriers in the access of Roma children to alternative family care (2023, 2024, 2027).