New series: Exploring the challenges and solutions to housing for people on the move

Advocating for Housing in Communities not Camps

Since our founding in 2020, Mazí has remained dedicated to ensuring displaced individuals have access to housing options that prioritise community, safety, and choice. We believe that this is only possible when housing is provided in existing communities in towns and cities. However, over the past five years, we have witnessed a concerning shift in the Greek government’s approach to housing for displaced people. For example, the closure of the ESTIA programme in December 2022, which had provided housing within urban areas for asylum seekers, marked the shift to an exclusively camp-based reception policy and sent a clear and troubling message. It not only reflected an “out of sight, out of mind” approach, but also signaled that inclusion within existing towns and cities was no longer a priority. Housing for asylum seekers is now being provided exclusively in camps (Closed Control Access Centres), far from urban centers, essential services, and established communities.

The situation for recognised refugees is equally difficult. Within 30 days of  receiving a decision for international protection, individuals are required to leave the camp with no access to continued support. The government’s integration and housing initiative, HELIOS, provides unreliable support, with funding delays causing significant interruptions in the rent subsidies promised to newly-recognised refugees. Additionally, the programme’s high barriers to entry, such as the need to secure a rental agreement, make it inaccessible to many of those who need it most.

Photo credit: © Sam Jubb. Samos CCAC.

Why We Oppose Camps as a Housing Solution

At Mazí, we strongly believe that housing for displaced people should be within existing communities, not isolated in camps, for several key reasons:

Camps fail to meet the housing standards set by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and resemble prison-like environments, with strict security, limited freedom of movement, and inadequate access to essential services. While designed with security in mind, camps impose restrictive conditions that can have profound negative impacts on mental, physical and social wellbeing, and isolate individuals from local communities. According to the OHCHR's housing standards, these camps violate essential freedoms, including, but not limited to, protection from forced evictions, the right to choose where to live and enjoy freedom of movement, and the right to privacy.

Housing within communities encourages inclusion, strengthens connections, and ensures displaced individuals can access vital services. It affords people the choice to participate in activities, build social networks, and develop a sense of belonging. Being part of a community is essential for self-reliance, mental well-being, resilience, and overall happiness.

Exploring the Barriers to Housing in Communities

Over the coming months, we will delve deeper into the barriers that displaced people face in accessing housing in existing towns and cities across Greece. Through interviews with key stakeholders, including actors in the housing sector and those who have direct experience of the barriers to accessing the housing market, we will create a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the challenges at hand.

Highlighting Solutions and Innovations

After we have explored the current barriers, we will turn our focus to solutions. We will highlight case studies and initiatives across Europe that provide innovative and effective approaches to housing in communities. By showcasing these examples, we hope to inspire change and push for more sustainable and inclusive policies.

Call to Action

If you have a perspective, interest, or opinion on this issue that you would like to share and contribute to our upcoming series, please get in touch with yassas@mazihousing.org. 

We welcome your thoughts, experiences, and insights as we work toward a future where policy puts humans at the forefront and recognises the right to housing as a right for all. 

Written by Megan Attard and Lara Stauss