Housing Solutions for People who are homeless in Greece

The housing market in Greece is largely based on home ownership. According to the General Secretariat of the National Statistical Service of Greece (2001 Census), the percentage of home ownership in Greece overcomes 77% of the country’s population.

The main public organization responsible for social housing solutions in Greece is the Workers’ Housing Organisation (O.E.K.), (Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity), which provides its beneficiaries with housing support, in the form of subsidized loans, rent subsidies, or ready-made houses. The contribution of O.E.K. in the construction and provision of social housing to vulnerable groups is very small compared to the real number in need. In addition, the construction program of O.E.K. currently is in decline, comparatively to its other programs: while in 2004 house construction covered 51% of its activities, in 2007 this percentage fell to 24%.

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