By the end of June 2020, UNHCR had created 25,792 places in the accommodation scheme as part of the ESTIA programme. These were in 4,646 apartments and 8 buildings, in 14 cities and 7 islands across Greece.
In total, since November 2015, 67,814 individuals have benefitted from the accommodation scheme. 22,578 people were accommodated as of the end of June 2020, 6,447 of whom are recognized refugees. 51% of the residents are children. The clear majority of those accommodated are families, with the average family size of four people. More than one in four residents have at least one of the vulnerabilities that make them eligible for the accommodation scheme.
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.
