Social residence: The Government’s big bet – What happens in Europe

Among the announcements that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will make from the ITH step on Greece’s housing problem, he is expected to stand by the measures that will strengthen the institution of socialism. Our country today is on its “pato” as to the number of social housing, despite the increased needs that exist. One of the government’s big bets to “defrost” the institution of social housing is to finally get the program of the “Social Contribution” into track, and the program “My Home 2” is expected to be announced soon after the necessary funds are secured. At the same time, total lifts are to be made in the program “Renovate – Rent” in order to become more attractive, as it did not have the expected response. In addition, the “Coverage” programme, which is the development of the “ESTIA” programme, runs through the disposal of apartments to vulnerable groups. However, particular emphasis is expected to be placed on the programme of the “Social Contribution”, where the aim is for the first competition to come out in the “air” at the end of 2024. The DYPA in this phase thoroughly studies the first 11 plots that are within design and near urban tissues. These plots are located in Pallini and Kifisia, Agios Ioannis and Acharnes. Outside Attica there are plots in Thessaloniki, Larissa, Xanthi, Agrinio and Arta. It is recalled that the programme aims to cover the housing needs of 2,500 households and 5,000 beneficiaries, aged up to 39 years, while, according to what has been announced, individuals will bear the cost of planning and building new housing complexes and in exchange they will receive part of the property, which will be able to exploit them either for sale or for rent. In the effort made by the government to increase social housing in the country, you also have to add the recent decision of the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Sophia Zachraki, to increase the budget of the Housing and Work programme for the homeless from 10 million to 15 million euros for 2025. Specifically, a couple with three members will receive 400 euros for rent, 1,500 euros per year for ECO accounts and shared and 1,500 euros for household construction. After three years – and if the contract remains active for 1+1 years, the beneficiary will receive housing allowance. Work is also subsidised for 12 months, with the payment of the minimum wage and the payment of the employee and employer contribution. Moreover, months ago Ms. Zachaki had said that intervention is being prepared for housing public employees in the areas of the Municipalities, mainly in island Greece and the problem of housing seasonal workers in the same areas is being studied. At the same time, market professionals point out that in order for Greece to have a real social home, the government must provide incentives for thousands of properties that remain closed to the market. The economics ministry figures show that some 650,000 properties throughout Greece are empty, i.e. not used. Of these, it is estimated that about 150,000 are located in Attica and Thessaloniki, but their number probably exceeds 1 million. However, the first step to exploit vacant properties and convert them into social housing is to fully record them to make their exact number known. They should then assess their situation and finally their location, as social housing should be in accessible places. Unlike our country in other European countries, efforts are being made to maintain the institution of social housing at satisfactory levels. The most typical example is Austria where one in five homes is social housing and even rented. In Austria the criteria for beneficiaries of social housing rental are particularly generous and have been estimated to include the large majority, i.e. around 80%, of households in the country. France is also a country with a highly developed system of rented social housing, since about 17% of all homes in the country operate that way. In fact, out of about 5 million social homes operating in France, about 2 million have been added over the last 20 years. From the resources of its own Recovery and Durability Fund (TAA), Portugal decided to allocate 2.7 billion euros to social housing programs, building 26,000 homes. Since 2021 Spain has been in the effort to implement an ambitious development project of around 20,000 energy efficient social housing, to be made available for rent as social housing. Also, 1 billion euros from its own TAA has stood out Italy to build 10,000 dwellings, which it will dispose of through social housing programs.