The REACT - REfugee Assistance Collaboration Project of the Municipality of Thessaloniki and UNHCR, w/ funding by the European Union

1. REACT
(REfugee Assistance Collaboration Thessaloniki)
Thessaloniki, 23/09/2017
Eleni Deligianni, Project Coordinator
e.deligianni@thessaloniki.gr

2. Main points...
• Who are we?
• What have we achieved so far?
• What is the ‘secret sauce’ ?
• The big picture..
• What is REACT?
• What comes next?

3. Who are we?
• Consortium of 9 partners
• 64 personnel members
• Collaborative humanitarian project
• UNHCR Accommodation Programme
o funding by the European Union

4. The Municipality of Thessaloniki
Lead Partner / UNHCR Interlocutor
http://www.thessaloniki.gr/
The United Nations High Commissioner
for the Refugees
http://www.unhcr.gr/
The Municipality of Neapoli – Sykies
http://www.dimosneapolis-sykeon.gr/
The Municipality of Kalamaria
http://kalamaria.gr/
The Decentralized Administration of
Central Macedonia – Thrace
http://www.pkm.gov.gr/
The Project Consortium

5. ARSIS
Social Organization for Youth Support
http://arsis.gr/
PRAKSIS
Programs of Development, Social Support and Medical
Cooperation
https://www.praksis.gr/
GCR – Greek Council for Refugees
http://www.gcr.gr/
HLHR – Hellenic League for Human
Rights
http://www.hlhr.gr/en/react/
Y.M.C.A –Thessaloniki
(Young Men's Christian Association)
http://refugees.ymca.gr/
The Project Consortium

6. Main Achievements
• Reception conditions improved
o Safe accommodation
• PoC community empowerment & self-reliance
o Support & protection services
o Events/ activities
• Peaceful coexistence w/ local communities promoted
o Mutually beneficial socio-cultural balance
• Sustainability
o Integrated & Participatory
o Accountability - Quality Assurance
• Success story
o Others follow/ good practices

7. The ‘secret sauce’
Effective & Efficient Communication
Management of the Refugee &
Migrant Crisis

8. What is REACT?
• A UNHCR – Municipal Accommodation Project
• Project Targets
o 888 Accomm. Places in Apartments/ Centers/ Host families
o Support & Protection services
o Extent local communities
o Provide optimum access to education
• Implementer:
o Municipality of Thessaloniki via Network of local authorities
& NGOs, in partnership w/UNHCR & funding by the EU
• Project Duration:
o May 2016 – December 2017 (885.472,15 €)
o Jan – Dec 2017  2.619.836,14 €

9. Target Accommodation
places
Accommodation
modality
Municipality of
Thessaloniki
Municipality of
Neapoli - Sykies
Municipality of
Kalamaria
Total reception
places
Rented apartments 561 182 98 841
Host families 16 0 3 19
Asylum Seekers
Shelter “Filoxenio” 28 - - 28
Total reception
places 605 182 101 888

10. Population of Concern (PoC)
Country of origin:
Syria (64%)
Afghanistan (16%)
Iraq (11 %)
Algeria, DRC (Congo),
Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon,
Pakistan, Palestine,
Stateless (9%)
Legal Status
Asylum Seekers (48%)
Dublin Cases (38%)
Relocation Candidates (3%)
Refugees (12%)
Age Group
Male Female Total
In
numbers
in %
In
numbers
in %
In
numbers
in %
0 - 5 71 8% 62 7% 133 15%
6 - 17 160 18% 124 14% 284 32%
18 - 59 249 28% 204 23% 453 51%
60+ 9 1% 9 1% 18 2%
Total 489 55% 399 45% 888 100%
1. Persons w/ specific needs (PWSN) w/family who entered GR after 1/1/2016 &
are (pre-) registered Asylum Seekers in GR
2. Dublin cases (reunification)
3. Relocation candidates
4. Asylum seekers & Recognized Refugees/beneficiaries of subsidiary protection

11. Project Organizational Chart

12. Project Personnel
Currently, 56 personnel members (to be increased to 64):
• Coordination & Management staff
o Project Coordinator, Financial Manager, Accommodation
Manager, HR Manager, Communication Manager, Logistics/
Supply Manager, Social Scientist Coordinator, Lawyer,
Project Admin Assistants, Accountant Project Assistant;
• Accommodation Supervisors
• Social Scientists
• Social Workers, Psychologists, Lawyers, Pedagogists, P.E.
staff, Theatrologists, Medical Staff
• Interpreters of Arabic, Farsi, French
• Driver

13. In the beginning…
Situation Analysis
• Many refugees in urgent need of protection
• Discrimination against them exacerbated by local news
• Project had fallen significantly behind
• No apartments were identified
• Approx. 50.000 refugees living in inhumane
conditions in camps
• Violence and disease outbreaks in camps
• No contractors were identified (i.e. for furniture,
etc.)

14. Actions…
• Set-up Independent Committees for the Appropriateness of
Accommodation
• Amended selection criteria accord. to real estate market
• Innovation & Entrepreneurial spirit
o Introduced new fast-track pre-approval application  mitigated
financial risk
o Introduced New ‘Suitable under Conditions’ status  opened up
pool of candidate Apts ‘
• Negotiated w/ UNHCR  revised work plan, increased publicity funds
• Internal PM team  Coordination & Communication w/ multiple internal
Stakeholders (Municipal/ partner level)  increased “ownership”
• Promoted calls for tender via personal/ community networks
• Assisted candidates w/new e-procurement system
• SWOT analysis/ strategy  Communication campaign  Targeted
communication messages/ promotional materials
• Info meetings w/ locals & real estate agents
• Local media  promotional social ads aired on national TV
• Monitoring Tools & SOPs
• Swift response to all neighborhood complaints Tactical Response Teams
• Emergency Plans
• Interpreters available 24/7

15. Results
• Exceed originally defined targets & increased budget 
improved quality service provision
• Ensured successful project continuation in 2017 
maintenance of accommodation places
• Received excellent reviews in terms of audit controls &
quality service provision
• Ensured successful continuation of the project in 2017
• UNHCR/ International experts (URBACT) recognized
the project as a sustainable model
• Promoted peaceful and mutually beneficial co-existence
of PoC/ beneficiaries w/in local communities
• Ensured PoC community empowerment & self-reliance

16. TS
REACT PROGRESS SUMMARY TABLE 23-09-2017
Based on project performance indicators
Apartments (Apts)
Municipality
Leased Apts Occupied Apts Places in Apts Targets
Hosted
Beneficiaries
PoC relocated/
transferred
THESSALONIKI 75 66 387 561 271 342
NEAPOLI -SYKIES 32 30 177 182 135 144
KALAMARIA 18 15 93 98 62 70
TOTAL 125 111 657 841 468 556
Host Families
Municipality
Host families
Families
currently
hosting
Places in Host
Families
Targets
Hosted
Beneficiaries
PoC relocated/
transferred
THESSALONIKI 3 2 10 16 7 14
NEAPOLI -SYKIES 0 0 0 0 0 0
KALAMARIA 1 0 2 3 0 7
TOTAL 4 2 12 19 7 21
Total places/ beneficiaries 669 860 475 577
& Asylum Seekers Shelter “Filoxenio” 28 28 23 38
Total places/beneficiaries w/Filoxenio 697 888 498 615
Total No. of PoC benefited by the project 1113

17. Project Strategy (1)
The Municipalities undertake:
 Overall administrative/ financial coordination of the project
 Efforts to promote project, raise public awareness, elicit support
of local citizens/ stakeholders via dissemination activities,
events, campaigns, PR, etc.
 All actions related to provision of accommodation in Host
Families and/ or leased private Apartments and/or Collective
Units/ Buildings
 Apartment rental/ leasing, utilities costs (i.e. electricity, water,
etc.), repairs and maintenance (i.e. damages, equipment
malfunctions, etc.)
 Furnishing of Apartments/ Maintenance of apartments &
equipment
 Management of leased accommodation facilities via
Accommodation Supervisors

18. Project Strategy (2)
Municipalities provide assistance w/:
 Individual/ family counseling of PoC
 Monthly financial support for Host Families
 Accompaniment & interpretation services
 Support for refugee’ access to education
 Events for promotion of peaceful co-existence w/ host
communities
 Individual/ family counseling on use of cash assistance
(CBI) received by UNHCR
 Monitoring of CBI use, based on UNHCR methodology
 Social inclusion/ integration support
 Food/ material (i.e. clothes)/ NFIs-non food items (i.e.
drugs) support

19. Host Family SOP (1)
Interested citizens submit applications of
interest, supporting documents & are informed
about the project
Social workers screen the candidate Host families/ visit to
the host family residence (social research)
Upon approval and agreement, Host Family signs contract
w/ Municipality

20. Host family SOP (2)
Referral Reports are sent to the local UNHCR ARTHESS
– Accommodation Relocation Team Thessaloniki
UNHCR ARTHESS matches w/ PoC families and sends
back Referrals of PoC to the Municipality
Matching of Host Families w/Families of PoC and
Individual/ Group Sessions follow in preparation for the
reception of PoC and hosting

21. Social Services
 1 social scientist responsible for each family (approx. 1 per 15 Apts)
• Support via Social Scientists:
o Psycho-social support/ consultations, support for PWSN & SGBV
survivors, enrollment in schools (ARSIS)
o Medical examinations and health assistance (PRAKSIS)
o Ad hoc legal assistance/ counseling (GCR and HLHR)
o Athletic, recreational and educational activities for children (YMCA)
o Pharmaceutical resources, material support, etc. (Municipalities,
NGOs)
o Accompaniment services to health, asylum, etc. services
(Municipality)
o Transportation services the Asylum Service in Athens (ARSIS)
o Interpretation services
• Bunk beds, blankets, clothes, school kits, baby kits etc. are provided
directly by UNHCR

22. Cash Assistance
In 2017, cash assistance provided by UNHCR meets basic
(non-shelter) needs of PoC through ‘multi-purpose grants’;
 Cash assistance targets ‘nuclear families’ and single
adults
 All PoC in Greece receive the same amounts based only
on family size and whether they receive food
 Exact amounts are:
Family Size Individual 2 3 4 5 6 7+
Full cash amounts for
non catered facilities 150 280 340 400 450 500 550
Partial cash amounts
for catered facilities 90 140 190 240 290 310 330

23. Reception & welcome
• Apartment becomes ready & available
• Referral request/ report sent to UNHCR A.R.THESS
“Accommodation for Relocation Team Thessaloniki”
• Referrals received by UNHCR A.R.THESS
• Matching conducted by Municipality of Thessaloniki
Social Scientist Coordinator
• Municipality of Thessaloniki Admins set up Reception
Team for reception day:
1. Interpreter/ Cultural Mediator
2. Social scientist
3. Accommodation Supervisor
4. Accompaniment Focal Point

24. DDay of entry
• Welcome & explanation of Hospitality Terms
(Hospitality Agreement)
• Reception Toolkit (i.e. printed info-pack)
• Social Worker investigates urgent medical/
psychosocial support needs
• House presentation (i.e. use of equipment
manuals, etc.)
• Neighbourhood orientation Tour (i.e. parks,
transportation, grocery stores, etc.)
• Emergency plan (Interpreters 24/7)
• Contact numbers/ Focal Points

25. Reception Toolkit

26. After entry…
• Social history intake  Case Plan  referrals  close monitoring
• Psycho-social consultations
• Legal appointments w/ lawyers for consultation
• Health management/ Hygiene and health prevention training /
Medical exams/ follow-up meetings in Polyclinics, Social Clinics
• Vaccinations & Good Health Certificates for children
• School enrolment
• Athletic/ educational/ recreational activities in YMCA and referrals to
other partners
• Apartment maintenance
• UNHCR cash assistance & donations of NFIs
• Close monitoring; services provided on a continuous basis

27. During hospitality
• Medical appointments arranged by the Social Workers
• Accompaniment services until PoC adjust/ know the city
• Interpretation services; daily communication w/ interpreters via
phone and instant messaging Apps (e.g. What’s up, etc.)
• Enrollment of children in schools, recreational activities
• Appointments w/ lawyers to be informed about their case w/ Asylum
service
• One visit per week by the Accommodation Supervisor or more if
needed
• One meeting per week w/assigned Social Worker and daily
communications (or even more depending on the case)
• Weekly referrals to specialized health facilities and other services
• Daily recreational, educational, etc. activities for children and adults

28. Exit from Accommodation
When a PoC family is informed about relocation decision:
• Social scientists arrange transportation to Asylum Service
& prepare them for what comes next
• Psycho-social and legal consultations; support regarding
relocation to another city and legal options
• Info on efficient packing: “what to take, what to leave
behind”
• Accommodation supervisor w/ interpreter visits family in to
check apartment & assist (i.e. safety issues, etc.)
• PoC sign exit agreement
• Accompaniment focal points accompany PoC to the place
of transportation pick up

29. Background story…
• Jan 2015 – “Filoxenio” - European Refugee Fund/ UNHCR - ECHO
• Autumn 2015 – Local Network & Local Action Plan
• Sep 2015 – URBACT III “Arrival Cities” – Urbact Local Group (ULG) 
Local Action Plan
• Feb 2016 – Open Society Foundation/ Solidarity Now - “Action for
refugees in Thessaloniki: Accommodation & Support Services” (2/16 -
8/16)
• May 2016 - “REACT Refugee Assistance Collaboration Thessaloniki” –
UNHCR/ ECHO

30. Asylum Seekers Shelter “Filoxenio”

31. URBACT III: “Arrival Cities”
• Arrival Cities Action Planning Network
• Urbact Local Group (ULG)
• Local Action Plan
Amadora, Portugal
Val-de-Marne, France
Oldenburg, Germany
Dresden, Germany
Riga, Latvia
Vantaa, Finland
Thessaloniki, Greece
Patras, Greece
Messina, Italy
Roquetas de Mar, Spain

32. “Filoxenio”
Asylum
Seekers
Shelter
Action for
Refugees
in Thessaloniki
project
REACT
Refugee
Assistance
Collaboration
Thessaloniki
Other public
authorities (i.e.
other Municipalities,
Ministries, etc.)
Civil Society
(i.e. local NGOs,
international
organizations,
etc.)
Municipal Social
Services
Migrant
Integration
Centre
ULG Network

33. “Action for Refugees in Thessaloniki –
Hospitality and Support services”

34. What could be improved..?
• Golden Rule btw supportive actions;
• Securing funds for transition to “social inclusion”;
• Skills mapping/ matching
• Education/ vocational training/ skills recognition/ employment;
• CwC - improved communication messages towards PoC
• Improved CBI tools – vulnerability as a criterion
• Closer collaboration/ add. support health provision challenges ;
• Additional Interpreters and/or cultural mediators in national health
facilities
• Improving response rate in terms of apartment repairs
• Unlimited transportation/ communication for refugees via free bus
cards or tickets, free wi-fi access, wi-fi devices etc.
• More participatory events/ informational campaigns for local
community & PoC

35. What comes next..? (1)
Emphasis on Social Inclusion/ Integration:
• Building & validating skills
• Networking w/ natives
• Fostering experimentation of business ideas in key
economic sectors for Thessaloniki
Achieved by Thessaloniki Empowerment Hub:
• Basket of support services (mentoring, training, advisory,
information, co-working spaces etc.)
• integrate existing individual/ stand-alone support
structures/ initiatives to a single point managed by group
of local stakeholders:
o the HUG (Hub for Urban Groupings) Network.

36. What comes next..? (2)
HUG will introduce innovative approaches (relevant to other
cities and transferable across EU) in terms of:
• concept - the Thessaloniki Empowerment Hub will
integrate all support modalities;
• services to be provided - Skills Mapping,
Refugee/Migrant Card, Refugee/Migrant Service Centre,
etc.
• management of HUG – participatory approach; the HUG
Network will be built by all relevant stakeholders
Our overall mission is to help refugees and migrants
DREAM, BUILD and GROW!

37. Support by other parties
Additional inputs have been made by:
o Municipal local media TV100/ FM100 & National TV stations:
• REACT TV spot for apartments: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzPKhMAJpn0
• REACT TV spot for host families: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBtNlek3pDA
o Real estate agencies: project promotion (pro-bono)
o Makedonia Palace Hotel: furniture donation
o Municipal Social Grocery Shops: food items
o The Smile of the Child” NGO: hygiene items donation
o Aghios Stylianos NGO: infant carekits
o Filoxenia NGO: shared spaces for educational & recreational activities
o Other local/ international NGOs:
• Praxis Polyclinics
• Municipal Social Clinics (http://www.kiathess.gr/gr/)
• Doctors of the World Greece (Médecins du Monde Greece http://mdmgreece.gr/en/)
• Doctors without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres https://www.msf.gr/en)
• ELIX/ Finn Church Aid/ UNICEF (http://www.elix.org.gr/index.php/en/79-elix-ngo-en)
• SAVE THE CHILDREN (https://www.savethechildren.net/news/greece/t-379)
• Alkyoni Refugee Day Center
• Solidarity Blue Refugee Center
• A21 (http://www.a21.org/gr)

38. Website: http://www.react-thess.gr
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/REACT-1073065169414959/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC4kF8sInZ-
fWufvbCHRsnw
Dissemination activities & events video: https://youtu.be/kkP3dnLkWCg
Call for Apartment Leasing TV ad: https://youtu.be/ntIlC3fmhEQ
Call for Host Families TV ad: https://youtu.be/YBtNlek3pDA