Homelessness in Greece is rising and by the end of 2011 it is expected to rise about 17 to 18%, which is 5%higher from any other country in Europe. Most of these people are people that have lost their jobs or became bankrupted and have been forced onto the streets. Students that have recently graduated from college and can’t find jobs are forced to live in shelters.
In the hostels of Athens there are about two new people a day. If the financial crisis continues people are afraid that homelessness will keep rising. According to the Red Cross and Kilmaka, an organization in Greece working on homelessness in Athens, about 20,000 people are living on the streets of Greece. Most of these people are immigrants and native Greeks.
Thousands of the Greek capital’s poorest now rely on food handouts, some organized by the church, some by the municipality and others by charities.
Organizational groups, such as Klimaka, are working on Greece’s homelessness problem. Klimaka organized its 6th annual “sleep out” event in Athens on June 6th 2011. More than 500 people participated with about 60 of these people spending a symbolic night in the street. There were other activities such as songs, dances, theatre, photo exhibits, food, drinks, and hygiene supplies and medical examinations for homeless people.
The event was amid to raise awareness and to force Greek citizens to end homelessness in Greece. Homeless people participated in the event and told their own stories on being homeless.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
