A. Samaras: Social welfare programme for the homeless

As he announced, the project will be developed in three stages

A new package of social measures focusing on the homeless was announced by PM Antonia Samaras on Monday night, after meeting with Ministers of Labour and health.

“We need to help those most affected by the crisis, in order to give them a second chance”, he mentioned characteristically, adding that “we care for those in need… Our goal is to exit the crisis without leaving anyone behind”, underlined the PM.

As he announced, the project will be developed in three stages:

At first there will be a Social Housing institution created, for which any suitable public property within the public sector’s jurisdiction will be utilized, in order to house the homeless, who as Mr. Samaras stated “are now experiencing the ultimate injustice”. As the Prime Minister also stated, the government will not rest there, but will give them medical care in order to hasten their return to society. The appropriate authorities have already identified the first 35 houses for this action.

The second part of the project involves collaboration with the private initiative so that based on the present legal framework, donations can be taken advantage of.

The third stage concerns the creation of a support center for the homeless to be housed in Drakopouleio Blood Donation Center in Vathis square, which, for this reason, will be renovated. The center itself is expected to be ready in a month and a half, and at its opening will be able to house 80 people for 20 days, until they can be transferred to other areas.

There will also be such centers created in other cities like Thessaloniki, Patras, Ioannina, and Larissa.