Local governments could intervene like in foreign countries so as to give incentives to homeowners to give their tenants the opportunity to recover, not to leave them on the street. Prevention is related to all these people that come out of prisons, mental hospitals, who have nowhere to go and, in most of the cases, they remain on the street unfortunately. Most of the former prisoners, who have no family to shelter them, because over the years the links were lost, end up on the street very easily. The same happens with the mentally ill.
Are there foreigners among the homeless?
Yes, there are, but their profile is different. There are not many people who have mental health problems. Most foreigners who remain on the street are from certain countries. People from the Balkan countries and Russia have a problem with alcohol sometimes. But foreigners have a strong network of support, they help each other, and that is why many people live in one apartment. They support each other. But the homeless Greeks do not form groups. They are usually alone or in twos or threes. This kind of solidarity that we see in foreigners, immigrants and refugees is lacking.
Tell me about your organization and what is your programme for homeless people?
We have an asylum; we have a support centre with doctors and psychologists. There they can bathe, we give them clean clothes. We have a paper recycling plant which employs people from the asylums and they are paid. We have made a proposal to the Athens city hall, which is open to any suggestions on how to improve the functioning of the asylums, how to decentralize services, as they all are at the city centre and a ghetto has formed there. We also work on the street once a week. We give food and medicines, provide first aid. The Greek society is more committed to this issue already, because it realizes that this problem relates directly to all. Homeless people are not criminals, as was thought before or as it was actually. These are people who have lost their home or are close to losing it.
Are the people who remain homeless less in the countryside?
Yes, it is more difficult there to lose your home because people are closer there. There is more alienation, more unemployment in Athens. The phenomenon of having no shelter is a very serious public issue that can not be solved just through charity. The Greek state must recognize its existence and take appropriate and organized actions to cover the entire chain of problems. Moreover, health problems and issues related to unemployment are driving people in this state of homelessness.
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