Athanasia Kouleta

Homelessness is not a new phenomenon in Greece’s major cities. However, the financial crisis—like many other social issues—brought it to the surface in the most uncomfortable and stark way, as the number of homeless people and those living on the streets increased.

A while ago, at the Serafio Foundation, a presentation was held for the results of the 2nd cycle of the “Support Points” program, during which four philanthropic foundations (including the Latsis Foundation) collaborated to fund 19 actions, each lasting up to 12 months and receiving up to €5,000, implemented by small and medium-sized Civil Society Organizations across three thematic areas.

Among the participating organizations was the non-profit civil company “Emfasis,” which implemented a program specifically for homeless elderly individuals titled “We don’t walk past – we support the elderly,” carried out in the area of Piraeus.

During the presentation of the program’s results, I heard the story of a middle-aged woman who, facing financial difficulties and being far from her children, initially spent one night on the street in Piraeus as a trial and ended up living there for two years. That’s where Emfasis found her. That was the moment I decided to approach this team, to learn more about homelessness, and perhaps to begin dismantling the stereotypical myths that homeless people are, for the most part, substance users or mentally ill—which is why they end up on the street. The truth is very different.

So, I met Joanna Tsoukalá, head of streetwork at Emfasis, and we spoke about the organization, streetwork, homelessness, and the need for these people to become visible to all of us once again.

When and with what purpose did Emfasis begin its work?
Emfasis started in 2013 as an idea born among Greeks living abroad, who felt compelled to act in response to the situation unfolding in Greece due to the economic crisis. It’s entirely a private initiative, heavily supported by its volunteer base and by Greeks of the diaspora.

The initial aim was to support people living on the streets, as the organization’s founders observed a significant increase in the homeless population during the years of crisis.

The streetwork methodology
What Emfasis brought as an innovation in the approach to supporting these individuals was the adoption of streetwork as a methodology. Streetwork is a widely used approach in Europe, where—simply put—we go to the people; we don’t wait for them to come to us for help.

Of course, for it to be effective, streetwork has its own rules, hierarchy, and stages—hence, the training required is quite rigorous. At Emfasis, our volunteer base is large, but not everyone engages in streetwork weekly, and not everyone is suited for it. Everyone can be trained to understand what the team does, but not everyone is cut out for this role.

What’s special about Emfasis’ approach is that we focus deeply on the individual. When we encounter a homeless person, we begin a conversation, assess their needs (they may also be a substance user, a mother with a child, etc.), and try to build a holistic plan that supports them.

We never impose—we listen to what each person truly needs. We build a relationship of trust with each homeless individual, emphasizing that they are supported by the team, not just one streetworker, in case someone is absent. This consistency helps build trust in Emfasis as a whole.

We have a shared code of conduct, from how we dress to how we speak and move. We want people to understand that we are there to help—with their consent. A fundamental principle of streetwork is to never judge or ask intrusive questions.

That’s why we don’t frequently change team compositions. Volunteering with us is a commitment—first ethically to ourselves, and then to the people we support.

Challenges and particularities of the program
Our program took place in Piraeus, where the demographics differ from Athens, and homelessness is widespread. Visible homelessness coexists with “hidden” homelessness—people who may have housing, but it’s unlivable, and they spend most of their day on the streets due to unemployment or other issues.

A recurring challenge is securing funding and explaining clearly what we do. Initially, most people didn’t understand what streetwork was, though this is now less of an issue.

In Greece, there is a lack of education around certain topics. For instance, there's a widespread mentality that if someone is homeless, it's their fault. We’ve been verbally attacked for helping people. Conversely, some have told us that if they hadn’t seen us with a homeless person, they wouldn’t have noticed or acknowledged them. Unfortunately, in humanitarian matters, we still have a long way to go. That’s why organizations like ours exist.

What we don’t know about the homeless
The homeless community operates like any other—there’s solidarity, conflict, friendships, even intimate relationships. Many end up on the streets due to a stroke of bad luck, poor choices, or, especially after the crisis, abandonment.

Some families supported their loved ones during hard times; others didn’t—and even cut them off. Many lost jobs at ages where finding new employment is very difficult, which caused severe psychological strain.

The conclusion? It’s far easier than we think for someone to end up in that position.

Volunteering: a two-way street
A volunteer can contribute in countless ways—admin, communication, marketing, fundraising, etc. We have a large volunteer base: about 30–35 in a core team with weekly shifts and roles, and 80–85 who support on a more ad hoc but consistent basis.

In my experience, volunteering often begins from a personal need—it helps fill a void. The motivations vary, but it only works when you find the right team. Volunteering teaches you about your limits and abilities, sometimes in ways that shock you. It offers knowledge, skills, and a sense of collective purpose. It’s truly a give-and-take relationship.

To become a volunteer with Emfasis, you complete the application on our website, go through an interview, and, if suitable, are trained for the specific role. For streetwork, training is mandatory.

Impact of the program
For Emfasis, the biggest takeaway was the knowledge we gained. We learned how to better support elderly homeless individuals—for example, helping them navigate basic health exams or pension procedures. We also discovered many barriers—such as family members being unaware (or indifferent) that their parents were homeless, even when they themselves were financially stable.

From the feedback we received, what stayed with most people we helped was that someone cared. As strange as that may seem to us, it was new to them. Age often deters people from offering help—young people tend to receive more attention. So, the fact that someone cared stood out to them. Sadly, this is telling of our times—and it's a volunteer group that stepped in to fill the gap.

The relationships and communication that developed during the three-month program (involving 24 individuals) were truly unique.

What’s next
One of our wishes—though not yet confirmed—is to continue this program for elderly homeless individuals. We won’t participate again in the “Support Points” program, but we truly hope to continue supporting these people, as the need is great.

Final thoughts
After thanking Ms. Tsoukalá for this enlightening conversation, I’d like to share some personal reflections.

“Our motto was: ‘We don’t walk past – we support the elderly.’” Simple words, yet hard to live by—myself included.

If there's one thing to take away from all this, it’s that nothing is guaranteed—and it’s easier than we think to lose everything in an instant. Alone, we can’t solve homelessness—but we can live by that motto. We can refuse to walk past.

We can notify relevant agencies, join civil society efforts, offer a kind word or a bottle of water. Above all, we can show people they are seen.

There’s no greater human need than to be treated as a person—before any other label.

Isn’t that right?

Source: Huffingtonpost.gr