Homelessness in the Context of an Acute Economic Crisis in Europe: the Case of Greece

9th European Research Conference
Homelessness in Times of Crisis
Warsaw, Friday 19th September 2014
Homelessness in the Context of an Acute Economic Crisis in Europe: the Case of Greece
Aris Sapounakis, University of Thessaly
Ioanna Katapidi, Cardiff University

Early 20th century:
Housing conditions in Greece were not particularly good
Over 50% of the dwellings were unhealthy and generally inappropriate
In Athens and Piraeus, 80% of the dwellings had only one room

The overall negative picture
of housing conditions in Greece
got worse after two major changes
The influx of refugees from Asia Minor during the mid-war period
The intense urbanization of the periphery of big cities immediately after the war

Refugees:
1.5 million to 5.0 million locals
48% were accommodated in Athens and Piraeus
Between1923-32:
over new 1,000,000 dwellings were built, mostly by the Committee of Rehabilitation of Refugees

After the war:
Heavy urbanization both because of the civil war of 1945-49 and the need for employment
People from all over Greece settled in the periphery of large urban centers
Self-housing: the almost exclusive way of gaining access to housing, through illegal building to an extent, but not squatting
The state allows the phenomenon to grow
Minimal statutory housing support
1972
2004

1951
1967
1982
2001
Urban development of Kipoupoli in the outskirts of Peristeri,
Greater Athens

Tenure status in Greece compared to other EU member states

Statutory housing support
Main social housing body in Greece:
Workers’ Housing Association (ΟΕΚ)
Since 1954: 95% of the total social housing construction for blue & white collar workers (nearly 250,000 units)
Economically independent as its funding derives from money transfers of employers and beneficiaries
OEK provided ready made residences, housing loans and rent subsidies but not socially rented accommodation
OEK ceased its operation in 2011 as dictated by the IMF, the EU and the European Bank

The Ministry of Health & Welfare provided:
ready-made dwellings and housing loans to low income social groups based on a 1964 law (minimal output of 20000 units)
temporary housing support for people suffering from natural disasters
The main housing program has been trailing for decades and practically ceased to operate recently

DEPOS (Public Enterprise for Planning and Housing)
Established in 1976
Mainly focused on implementing regeneration programs of ex-refugee settlements
Ceased to operate in 2006
1990: ΕΙΥΑΑPΟΕ, established as a special service of the Ministry of the Exterior for the settlement of repatriates
Minimal output of 15,000 units for a target group of over 100,000
Ceased t operate in 2004

Services for the homeless in Greece
Services not particularly developed
Mainly operated by the central government who run several night shelters and refuges for victims of domestic violence
Local administration and voluntary sector services are still fewer
Due to the recent economic crisis, municipalities cut down their socially oriented activity

Services for the homeless in Greece
Similarly the ambitious de- institutionalization program for mental patients Psychargos ceased to operate
The increased interest of the EU in immigrants on the other hand attracted a lot of attention by the Greek central government who established several new ‘reception’ or rather ‘detention’ services

0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Chile
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Korea
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
OECD - Total
Brazil
Russian Federation
Housing expenditure
Housing expenditure
OECD, 2013
Recent trends in access to housing in Greece

2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
1
AUSTRIA
17.5
16.8
17.8
16.7
18.6
17.0
16.6
16.9
2
BELGIUM
21.6
22.6
21.5
21.6
20.8
20.2
20.8
21.0
3
BULGARIA
61.3
60.7
44.8
46.2
41.6
49.1
4
FRANCE
19.8
18.9
18.8
19.0
18.6
18.4
19.3
19.3
5
GERMANY
18.4
20.2
20.6
20.1
20.0
19.7
19.9
6
DANEMARK
16.5
17.2
16.7
16.8
16.3
17.6
18.3
18.9
7
GREECE
30.9
29.4
29.3
28.3
28.1
27.6
27.7
31.0
8
ESTONIA
26.3
25.9
22.0
22.0
21.8
23.4
21.7
23.1
9
UK
24.8
23.7
22.6
23.2
22.0
23.1
22.7
10
IRELAND
24.8
25.0
23.3
23.1
23.7
25.7
29.9
11
SPAIN
24.4
23.4
23.3
23.1
22.9
23.4
25.5
27.0
12
ITALY
26.4
25.0
25.9
26.1
25.3
24.7
24.5
28.2
13
CYPRUS
25.3
25.4
25.2
22.4
22.9
23.6
23.5
14
LATVIA
45.8
41.4
36.0
33.8
37.4
38.1
40.1
15
LITHUANIA
41.0
35.9
28.7
27.6
29.5
33.4
33.4
16
LUXEMBURG
16.1
17.3
16.5
15.9
15.5
17.8
17.1
16.8
17
MALTA
20.2
19.1
19.4
19.6
20.2
20.6
21.4
18
NETHERLANDS
16.7
16.0
15.7
14.9
15.1
15.1
15.7
19
HUNGARY
32.1
31.4
29.4
28.2
29.6
29.9
31.0
20
POLAND
45.3
39.5
34.4
30.5
27.8
27.8
27.2
21
PORTUGAL
27.5
26.1
25.0
25.0
26.0
24.9
25.9
24.4
22
RUMANIA
45.9
44.2
43.1
41.4
40.3
23
SLOVAKIA
32.0
26.7
21.3
20.6
19.6
20.6
20.6
24
SLOVENIA
18.5
17.1
17.1
18.5
17.1
18.3
19.3
25
SWEDEN
16.9
14.4
16.3
13.9
14.9
15.9
15.0
16.1
26
CHECH REPUBLIC
19.6
18.0
15.8
15.3
14.0
14.4
15.3
27
FINLAND
17.2
17.2
17.1
17.4
17.4
16.9
16.9
17.9
ΕU 27
25.6
25.2
24.4
23.6
23.1
23.5
24.2
PEOPLE AT RISK OF POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

Homelessness in the Context of an Acute Economic Crisis in Europe: the Case of Greece Recent trends in access to housing in Greece
Since the end of the last decade:
Crucial socio-economical changes in the Greek society
High pressures on the labor and housing market
but also on the central and local administration
Additional pressure due to migration incoming flows
Indications
Massive increase of unemployment (especially young people and women)
A growing number of people at risk of losing their homes either because of mortgage or lease arrears

The current situation is particularly harsh on
Rough sleepers and the long-term homeless
Young people over 18 who are not supported by welfare policies
People who are over 55 and are out of work
The elderly who are not supported by social security services
One parent families
A sizeable portion of members of the Roma communities
Undocumented immigrants who recently came to Greece
People at risk of eviction due to inability to repay their housing loan
People at risk of eviction due to their inability to pay the rent
The recent unemployment trends is particularly severe for people of
30-45 years of fairly high educational standards

Conclusions-Recommendations
Need for a holistic approach concerning the access to housing
At the analysis stage
• Establishment of a national basis regarding access to housing and funding supportive actions
• Recording and analysis of the different dimensions of the phenomenon
• Addressing the fragmented character of the current policies
At the stage of proposal
• Focus on housing, working and social rehabilitation
• Elaboration and application of preventive measures
• Development of targeted policies based on the needs of vulnerable social groups
• Potentials of volunteering

Homelessness in the Context of an Acute Economic Crisis in Europe: the Case of Greece

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