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




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

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





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Housing expenditure

Housing expenditure

OECD, 2013

Recent trends in access to housing in Greece




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

Recent trends in access to housing in Greece





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

Government & Nonprofit

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