From camps to social integration? Social housing interventions for asylum seekers in Greece

Abstract

Purpose This paper offers an empirical study of the Emergency Support to Integration and Accommodation (ESTIA) programme, as the policy initiative for the provision of housing and social integration for asylum seekers over the last few years in Greece. Greece is a country that is geographically situated on the southern external borders of Europe and has been experiencing a rise in refugee flows since 2015. At a first glance, it seems that ESTIA’s central aim is social integration. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the design and implementation framework of ESTIA essentially promotes the goal of social integration or whether it is merely a gesture that has no real effect. Design/methodology/approach The field research focussed on an evaluation of the ESTIA programme on the basis of its impact on the social integration of its beneficiaries. This was attempted by examining the attitudes and perceptions of key stakeholders during its design and implementation stages. In order to examine these dimensions, qualitative research methods were developed. In particular, in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants involved in the design and implementation processes of ESTIA. Findings Social integration is something much more than providing permanent shelters to asylum seekers. ESTIA has been designed and implemented with a view to providing better temporary housing conditions for its beneficiaries. The rest of the range of actions for their social actions was left to voluntary actions by the implementing agencies, without offering them any financial support – a fact that suggests that the use of the term “social integration” in relation to this programme is disingenuous. Such an intervention does not aim at significant social integration but, primarily, the temporary management of extreme impoverishment. ESTIA can, therefore, be added to the scientific literature as yet another case study where the complex concept of social integration is misused by the EU and European states to legitimise the policies of repression and control of refugee populations. Originality/value This is the first field research that examines the design and implementation framework of ESTIA, the most important programme for the social integration of asylum seekers in Greece. The presentation of research findings is expected to make a significant contribution to the improvement of many aspects of the design and implementation framework of ESTIA.

The Socioeconomic Integration of People in Need of International Protection: A Spatial Approach in the Case of Greece

“…Kandylis (2019) considers camps as spatially isolated and socially marginal living spaces that prolong and expand human suffering. Kourachanis (2018) suggests that social housing, such as the ESTIA urban accommodation project running in Greece, should be extended to avoid placement inside camps but also be part of a holistic social integration plan that combines education, training, and social awareness strategies. Vergou (2019) also links accommodation with education arguing that the accommodation of urban refugees in camps outside cities or in rural areas leads to school segregation.…”

Security Net and Ambassadors for Social Inclusion? The Role of Intermediaries in Host–Refugee Relationships in Homestay Programs

“…Such programs tend to have a double objective: first, to provide safe and secure housing, and second, to aid local integration. Indeed, social integration goes far beyond offering permanent accommodation to refugees (Kourachanis, 2019). Establishing social connectedness with local communities and social cohesion, these local contacts are crucial to refugees' sense of belonging and integration (Ager & Strang, 2008).…”

Risk-oriented approach to managing the social market economy

“…Literature review Preconditions and perspectives of creation of the social market economy and the accumulated practical experience are discussed in the works of Agunovich et al (2018), Andronova andRiazantsev (2006), D'Aleo and, Goyal and Sergi (2015a), Goyal and Sergi (2015b), Goyal et al (2015), Goyal et al (2017), Haabazoka et al (2019), Ivanov et al (2019), Pichkov (2016), Popkova and French (2017), Popkova and Sergi (2020), , , Popkova et al (2018), Popkova and Zmiyak (2019), Pritvorova et al (2018), Qerimi and Sergi (2015), Ragulina (2019), Sergi et al (2019), Shevyakova and Petrenko (2018), Shevyakova et al (2019) and Zavyalova et al (2018). Risk management and related crisis management of market economy ("pure" market) are described in the works of Adetiloye et al (2017), Amin (2019), Apergis (2015), Balima et al (2017), Benda et al (2019), Bertolini and Goglio (2019), Boonman (2019), Bouri (2015), Br€ ulle et al (2019), Deb et al (2020), Demiralay (2019), Floyd (2019), Gencer and Demiralay (2016), Ha-Huy et al (2016), Jiang et al (2017), Kourachanis (2019), Laitsou et al (2017), Matsuoka (2018), Mul e (2019), Naess and B ardsen (2015), ...…”