The implementation of the “Coverage” program for the free housing of vulnerable young people in private houses, with the rent paid by the State, is progressing rapidly.

By decision of the acting Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Patrina Paparrigopoulou, the relevant invitations were issued to the owners of houses in the municipalities of Katerini, Karditsa, Larissa/Trikkaia and Levadea, which had been allocated for the accommodation of asylum seekers, within the framework of the older “ESTIA” program , to submit an application to participate in the “Coverage” program, submitting the necessary supporting documents.

As the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs states in its announcement, invitations will follow to the potential beneficiaries, who meet the eligibility criteria for their participation in the program, to submit applications to the municipalities, in order to be allocated the available houses.

According to the data so far:

– 46 municipalities from all over the country have expressed interest in the “Coverage” program, including the municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki.

– Nine program contracts have been signed between the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and the municipalities of Neapolis-Sykea, Galatsi, Chalkidea, Tripoli, Karditsa, Katerinis, Larissa/Trikkaia, Levadea and Kilkis/Paionia.

– For the first four municipalities, the invitation has been issued to the beneficiary households (potential beneficiaries) and the evaluation of the candidates on the basis of the selection criteria is underway, so that the available apartments are given and the relevant rental agreements are signed between the owners and the municipalities .

– In the next few days, the signing of two more programming contracts concerning the municipalities of Athens and Paenia is expected.

– Two more contracts, concerning the municipalities of Heraklion/Malevizio and Ioannito, are in the process of pre-contract control.

– In the immediate future and after the decisions have been made by the municipal councils, the signing of the contracts will proceed with the remaining municipalities that have expressed an interest in participating.

Through the “Coverage” program, with a budget of 21.5 million euros, implemented by the General Secretariat of Social Solidarity and Combating Poverty of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, with funding from the Public Employment Service (PYPA), the State covers for three years the cost of renting private homes made available under the “ESTIA” program, which ended in December 2022.

Beneficiaries of the “Coverage” program additionally receive the costs of moving the household and transporting their household goods.

On the other hand, the owners, in addition to the guaranteed rent, which is proportional to the rent they received, through the “ESTIA” program, plus the inflation of 2022, are also covered for any damages found in the properties during the tenancy .

It is noted that, so far, approximately 700 property owners who participated in the ESTIA 2021 and ESTIA II programs have shown interest.

It is recalled that the “Coverage” program, established by Law 5006/2022, is aimed at young people, aged 25-39, who are beneficiaries of the Minimum Guaranteed Income and do not own their own home.

The aim, in the current period, is to house 3,000 potential beneficiaries, with the utilization of at least 1,000 houses.

Those interested, who submit applications for participation, are classified by municipality with points and lists are drawn up, according to the following criteria: families with many children, families with three children, people with a disability of more than 67%, households under eviction from rental housing, single-parent families, families with a or two children, unemployed registered with DYPA, individuals or families accommodated in shelters for female victims of violence and individuals or families accommodated as members of Minimum Guaranteed Income households.

After ranking the households in a priority list, based on the points they collect, the municipalities invite the beneficiaries to choose – from the list of available houses – those that meet their needs, depending on the composition of the household and their preference, as to the area of ​​the municipality where the property is located.

Each household can choose up to three available properties, among which they are asked to choose the appropriate one to rent.