Good Practices: Maria Karra, Emfasis Non-Profit.

Homelessness is often reduced to what is visible—people sleeping in public squares, on park benches, or in abandoned buildings. Yet, a more insidious form exists, hidden behind closed doors, overlooked by statistics, and masked by temporary solutions that do not provide real security. In Greece, this hidden homelessness has surged over the last decade, exacerbated by economic downturns, skyrocketing living costs, job precarity, and the recent pandemic. At Emfasis Non-Profit, we witness daily the silent suffering of those without a true home, and we have developed innovative, community-driven practices to bridge the gap where policies fall short.

Understanding the Hidden Faces of Homelessness in Greece

Homelessness encompasses more than rough sleeping. It includes:
• Families living in overcrowded single-room accommodations.
• Individuals couch-surfing with acquaintances.
• Women enduring abusive relationships due to lack of alternatives.
• Elderly individuals struggling with the rising cost of living.
• Working people unable to secure stable housing despite employment.
• Those experiencing long-term unemployment.

These individuals often remain invisible in official statistics, yet they are equally vulnerable, living in constant uncertainty without the security of a home. Despite the existence of some governmental shelters and housing programs, access remains inconsistent. Bureaucratic obstacles, long waiting lists, and eligibility requirements often prevent those most in need from receiving timely support. Instead of waiting for solutions that may never come, community-driven organizations like Emfasis Non-Profit have stepped in, bringing direct and immediate solutions to people—where they need them most.

Emfasis Non-Profit’s Mobile Approach: Meeting People Where They Are

From its inception, Emfasis Non-Profit has prioritized a proactive, street-based approach to social support. Our Streetwork Program, unlike other social outreach methods, is built on the principle that no one should have to find help—help should find them. Our dedicated team of trained and experienced social workers and volunteers engage directly with people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion in their own environment. Through regular outreach, we build trust, offer tangible assistance, and create pathways to reintegration.

The relief efforts include 3 Mobile Support Units with a wide range of immediate support services, including:
• Hygiene kits and basic necessities
• Street-based advisory services such as:
• Psychosocial support and mental first aid assistance
• Guidance on navigating social services including basic rights
• Emergency accommodation & medical referrals

For women and children at risk of domestic violence and exploitation, we work on a referral system with trustworthy partner organizations, ensuring they receive protection and long-term support with dignity.

Supporting the Working Homeless

A significant yet often overlooked segment of the homeless population comprises individuals who are employed but still unable to afford stable housing. Rising living costs, stagnant wages, and a lack of affordable housing options have boosted social inequalities. Platforms such as Airbnb have added additional strain by simultaneously increasing rental prices and decreasing affordable housing supply, in a nation where family networks find it harder to provide shelter & assistance and where social measures may be perceived by the government as obstacles in the economic reboot. As a result, many individuals are pushed into homelessness despite having jobs.

At Emfasis Non-Profit, we support working homeless individuals by offering them essential resources that empower them to regain stability. Our initiative ensures they have access to a conducive workspace, complete with an internet connection so they can complete their training. Furthermore, we provide access to electricity, enabling them to work and pursue their professional development effectively. This support is crucial as they work towards receiving their first couple of salaries, allowing them to gradually take ownership of their circumstances and transition into more permanent housing solutions.

Good Practices: Building Holistic and Sustainable Solutions

One of the most effective strategies in addressing homelessness in Greece has been community-driven intervention models. Instead of waiting for systemic reform, we focus on filling the gaps that leave people unsupported. Some of our key best practices include:
• Mobile Street Outreach: Engaging directly with individuals in need, building trust, and offering real-time individualized solutions.
• Micro-Shelter & Housing Support: Providing innovative housing support going beyond traditional emergency shelters. We collaborate with local hostels to offer safe and stable accommodations, prioritizing individuals with fragile health conditions, those facing extreme weather, single parents with minor children, and individuals at risk of mental health challenges. This is strictly on a short-term basis, however, it creates a critical opportunity for our social services team to work on more permanent housing solutions while the beneficiaries are sheltered from the dangers of rough sleeping.
• Employment & Reintegration Programs: Covering the cost of job training, focusing mainly on jobs that can potentially offer accommodation, i.e., security staff, night managers in warehouses, that come along with single-bed accommodation.
• First Aid Mental Health: Recognizing that homelessness is about mental well-being, we integrate the principles of First Aid Mental Health practices across all of our beneficiaries.

The Role of Government & Policy Reform

While grassroots organizations can provide critical interventions, we need to stress the fact that such services are not available at all times and rely almost exclusively on private, corporate, and foundation donations. Real solutions can only be implemented by the long-term policy commitment of the State.

The gaps in how homelessness is addressed at the national level highlight the urgent need for systemic reforms. One major issue is the lack of accurate data collection, which hampers our ability to understand the true extent of homelessness and effectively allocate resources. Without comprehensive statistics, it becomes challenging to develop targeted interventions that meet the needs of different populations.

As long as housing programs are under-resourced, they will continue to lead to a patchwork of services unable to provide comprehensive support. According to data from the European Federation of National Organisations Working with the Homeless (FEANTSA), countries that have committed to stable funding models for homelessness have seen significant improvements in their ability to reduce homelessness rates.

Emfasis Non-Profit continues to push for meaningful policy shifts, including:
• A National Homelessness Strategy aligned with the Homeless Bill of Rights. A unified, cohesive approach for homelessness prevention featuring integrated policies and promoting mixed living—where individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds live in close proximity—in order to enhance social cohesion and foster community support networks. Studies have shown that mixed living arrangements not only reduce stigma but also improve access to resources and opportunities for those experiencing homelessness.
• Improved Accessibility to Housing Solutions: This includes models like Housing First, Social Housing, etc., steering away from shelters and emergency accommodation towards long-term dignified housing options.

Looking Forward: A Future Without Hidden Homelessness

We believe that a society is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable. The faces of hidden homelessness may not always be seen, but their struggles are real. By working together—civil society, policymakers, and local communities—we can break the cycle of homelessness and restore dignity, one life at a time.

Recommendations

Advocacy Recommendations

Acknowledging the role civil society, the private sector, and citizens play in influencing national action related to social issues, we recommend:
• Encouraging all European Union countries to allocate funding and land to the migration/refugee crisis and immediate relief for the overcrowded Greek refugee reception centers.
• Educating about the gender pay gap and destigmatizing single motherhood.
• Supporting economic reform and a shift from familistic welfare capitalism.
• Focusing on children’s and families’ rights and livelihood needs for shaping policies and programs that address homelessness and its drivers.
• Promoting diplomacy and conflict resolution in conflict situations, increasing opportunities for stakeholder involvement and input, including from migrants, women, children, and girls.

Policy Recommendations

We believe the following policy recommendations are essential to addressing and preventing homelessness, and are applicable at the local, national, and international levels. We encourage:
• Adoption of homelessness-specific monitoring and evaluation processes by the European Union, and adoption of an official definition of homelessness by the Greek government.
• Implementation of policies and programs opening reception places for refugees in places other than the East Aegean Islands in Greece, including elsewhere in Europe, following UNHCR recommendations.
• Creation of employment programs specifically for women which ensure equal and fair pay, and general increases in federal employment to address social issues and decrease the high unemployment rate.
• Adherence to the European Union recommendations on “Investing in children: breaking the cycle of disadvantage,” including creating positive environments for children and preventing and addressing children’s poverty and exclusion in society.
• Use of a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to future housing, education, health, and other policies.

Source: UNANIMA International