The third pillar of the “Agenda 2030“, namely the personnel of the Hellenic Armed Forces, was mentioned during the inauguration ceremony of three new military housing complexes, by the Minister of National Defence, Nikos Dendias. “Improving the living conditions of these people is a top priority for the ‘Agenda 2030’,” Dendias said, adding that “we are forming an integrated support structure“, i.e. “all the necessary countries to serve the needs of our troops“.

In this context, “we cannot ask the new military family to move forward if we do not support them in this effort and that is what we will do,” Dendias said, adding that “it is impressive that this major project with appropriations approved by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is moving forward and will be completed on schedule.“

1,000 homes a year

The goal, according to Dendias, is “after the first 1,000 homes, to be followed by 1,000 every year“. “I believe “that these credits will ensure,” the minister estimated, setting as priorities Thrace and the islands of the East Aegean, where “there too we are attempting a holistic approach.”

“The military family, the family in general is the foundation of this society. We all ought to support it with our love and our interest,” Dendias concluded.

It should be noted that by providing a solution to a chronic problem, but also a constant request of the permanent personnel of the Armed Forces, who are transferred to border areas to serve in readiness units, the Ministry of National Defence has launched a wide-ranging housing program of 4,000 houses, with a time horizon of 2030.

Specifications

The new settlement, which is part of the Ministry of Defence’s settlement program, is spread over 93 acres within the urban fabric, with health and education facilities in close proximity. There are 16 buildings, 11 of which are allocated as military housing, amounting to 172 in total.

Housing from inactive buildings

In particular, a number of apartments were constructed from scratch and five buildings were transformed through renovation works, resulting in 4,650 sqm of new housing.

At the same time, the complex already operates: a petrol station, a laundry station, a department store, a café and a playground, with a new goal to build a nursery, while new communities are planned in the same pattern.

It is recalled that the Minister of National Defense, Nikos Dendias has pledged that “whoever the country transfers somewhere, either alone or with his family, will give him – in the professional cadre – and a key to a house, as is done in all the progressive armies on this planet“, inaugurating today 20 more officers’ houses, in Haidari.

It should be noted that the first 1,000 houses under construction are expected to meet immediate needs in the regions of Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the Aegean islands, where a large part of the Armed Forces’ personnel is being transferred as a priority.

In particular, the settlement program initially includes the wider area of 5 cities of Thrace (Alexandroupolis, Didymoteicho, Orestiada, Komotini, Xanthi) and 13 islands of the East and Central Aegean (Karpathos, Rhodes, Kastelorizo, Kos, Samos, Chios, Leros, Lesvos, Lemnos, Samothrace, Skyros, Mykonos, Syros), i.e. 54 building complexes of all three branches of the Armed Forces. At the same time, however, 15% of the total number of houses will be allocated to doctors of the National Health Service, teachers and professors who are unable to secure housing in their areas of appointment.

Photos of the residences: