Iraq News Now

Overview

By the end of October 2019, UNHCR had created 25,545 places in the accommodation scheme as part of the ESTIA programme. These were in 4,475 apartments and 14 buildings, in 14 cities and 7 islands across Greece.

The Accommodation Scheme1 provides rented housing to vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees in Greece. Urban accommodation helps restore a sense of normalcy and provides better access to services, including education and health. People are additionally supported by social workers and interpreters who help them access medical services, employment, language courses and recreational activities.

Demographics

In total, since November 2015, 61,895 individuals have benefitted from the accommodation scheme. 21,585 people were accommodated as of the end of October 2019, 7,295 of whom are recognized refugees. 50% of the residents are children. The clear majority of those accommodated are families, with the average family size of five people. More than one in three residents have at least one of the vulnerabilities that make them eligible for the accommodation scheme. The three most common vulnerabilities are:

• 11% serious medical condition
• 3% single parent
• 3% disability