Complaints from social service clients about the closure of district departments are one of the most frequent grievances against the local government. Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs ("Progressives"), during his time as a worker in this system and as the head of the Social Committee of the Riga City Council, advocated for centralization. And just recently, the mayor opened the updated social assistance center at 2 Baldones Street.
Didn’t Forget About the Ramp
Your author, as a member of the Social Committee, was curious about how it all works. Moreover, the ribbon-cutting was quite symbolic — the center had already been receiving visitors for more than two weeks.
The head of the Riga Social Service Andris Iziņķevičs and the center's director Elīna Eriņa shared that in 18 days, the center had already served 1,955 clients, including 57 with functional disabilities (a gentle ramp has been built for the disabled). You can book an appointment in advance or come without an appointment. They serve clients from all over Pārdaugava.
No Need to Rush?
The first floor, an open office, is divided into cubicles where specialists work with visitors. The average service time is 17 minutes. This is a bit compared to the 45 minutes that V. Kleinbergs personally spent changing documents at the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, which made him barely make it to the center's opening.
This, on one hand, speaks to the mayor's democratic nature, who personally visits official places like an ordinary citizen — but on the other hand, it indicates the leisurely pace of the public service...
At the social center, elderly people who are not familiar with computers will receive help with email, banking, and other services. Here and there, Russian was heard from the cubicles — in this matter, communication knows no borders. An occupational therapist is also available — a rehabilitation specialist who helps people with physical, mental, or emotional impairments regain skills for independent daily living. You can request assistance from a home visiting team.
A Spoonful of Tar
Ms. Eriņa states that there are over fifty employees working at the center; all have specialized education in the social field.
It was possible to visit the staff floors (visitors are not allowed there) — comfortable offices, kitchen areas, restrooms, and an elevator. It is no secret that social workers are far from the highest-paid category, so the staff is motivated by stability and a comfortable working environment. By the way, the building offers an idyllic view of the ancient park of the beautifully restored Hamanju estate — a gem of Agenskalns nearby.
And everything would have been wonderful if the internet hadn’t gone down at the center the very next day — leaving even those people who came here from abroad without service...
