“ESTIA 2021: Accommodation Programme for Asylum Seekers”
In 2016, Municipality of Livadia was asked to contribute to the management of refugee crisis and undertake its share of responsibility in compliance with human values such as solidarity and humanism.
Municipality of Livadia took the initiative to implement an alternative Accommodation Programme by hosting Asylum Seekers in rented apartments scattered through the town and thus, facilitating Asylum Seekers’ access to Public Services, Health care Structures and Educational Units. The implementing actor has been the Public Benefit Organization of the Municipality of Livadia (K.E.DH.L.).
K.E.DH.L. is a municipal body which implements programmes that provide support and services to vulnerable social groups of the Municipality of Livadia. Since November 2016, K.E.DH.L. has been running the Programme “ESTIA” in rented apartments in Livadia.
The successful implementation of this pilot Programme during the last two months of 2016 contributed to the extension of the Programme until today.
The Municipality of Livadia has been recognized as an example of good practice in accommodating asylum seekers. Moreover, the implementation of similar projects by other municipalities justifies our opinion that this kind of accommodation must be extended as an essential part of our national planning.
The programme from November 2016 up to December 2020 was implemented in cooperation with UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Since January 2021, the Ministry of Migration Policy fully undertakes the supervision and management of the Accommodation and Integration Programmes for refugees in Greece.
BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROGRAMME
The beneficiaries of the Programme are vulnerable families of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection who await their family reunification to other countries of the E.U. or their recognition as refugees in Greece.
Their referral to Livadia from various accommodation facilities, where they were hosted, is conducted by DPAA (Department for the Managements of Accommodation Requests).
FUNDING
The Programme is funded 100% by the E.U.
ACCOMMODATION
The number of the rented apartments as well as the accommodation places are designated by the Agreement signed between the two partners (K.E.DH.L. – Ministry of Migration and Asylum). In particular, there are:
480 accommodation places in 80 apartments
SERVICES AND PROVISIONS OF THE PROGRAMME
The Programme falls in line with international standards and offers PoC the following:
- 80 equipped apartments (6 accommodation places / apartment)
- Financial assistance through a cash card provided by UNHCR for the daily needs of each family
- Psychosocial support
- Healthcare in collaboration with local healthcare structures
- Education for refugee children and adults in cooperation with local educational organizations and associations
- Sports and cultural activities
PROJECT PERSONNEL
The personnel, who implements this Programme and supports PoC in their daily life, is composed of 26 specialized members:
- 8 Administrative executives
- 4 Psychologist/Social Workers
- 5 Social Scientists
- 4 Accommodation Supervisors
- 4 Interpreters
- 1 Vehicle Driver