The importance of social assistance and service in care of social municipality in Turkey: The case of Keçiören Municipality

In line with the changes and developments taking place within the framework of today's living conditions, the needs and expectations of people are also becoming increasingly different. Municipalities go beyond traditional local services and increase their social assistance and service applications by diversifying in the face of the demands of citizens within the scope of social municipalism. The emergence of local governments as serious actors in cities causes municipalities to take on more duties and responsibilities in solving social problems. Many regulations that have entered our lives in recent years, especially the Municipality Law No. 5393 and the Metropolitan Municipality Law No. 5216, give quite wide powers and duties in terms of social aid and service practices. In this study, it is aimed to determine the approaches of the municipalities towards social assistance and services within the social municipality management through the example of Keçiören Municipality and to reveal the activities they carry out in this direction. Within the framework of the research subject, the literature was searched by searching the sources related to the subject, scanning the databases and examining the sources such as articles and journals related to the research. In the study, interviews and document analysis were conducted using qualitative research method. The activity reports, strategic plans and performance programs of Keçiören Municipality covering the years 2019-2021 were scanned and a document review was carried out with tables and graphics containing social assistance and services practices. The opinions and thoughts of the officials and personnel working in the social assistance and service related directorates of Keçiören Municipality were reached with the semi-structured interview technique. As a result of the study, it is revealed that Keçiören Municipality is trying to carry out its works in order to increase the welfare level of the citizens by realizing human oriented social assistance and services, and to realize local development in a way that will affect all individuals by ensuring social justice and balance in the society.