Housing assistance and the replacement of household appliances in its areas are progressing Thessaly and Central Greece which were affected by the September floods.

As emphasized in a related announcement, “the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and in particular the General Secretariat for Natural Disaster Recovery and State Aid has activated from the first moment the framework of state aid which includes, among other things, both the form of aid for household equipment and the simple repair works, as well as the scheme of the housing assistance for the areas of Thessaly, but also of Central Greece that were affected by the floods of September 2023”. In this direction, the general directorate for the restoration of the effects of natural disasters (GDAEFK) has started the process of first autopsies, in order to identify the damage from the flood phenomenon, but also of re-inspections for the damage to the houses and buildings in general.

Until yesterday, Monday, September 25, 2023, a total of 17,453 autopsies have been carried out by the ranks of the GDAEFK, with the contribution of the engineers of the municipalities, the Civil Protection, the Greek Army, the Technical Chamber of Greece and the Union of Engineers of Civil Servants Graduates of Higher Schools, of of which 15,856 census autopsies, focusing mainly on damage to the household equipment of homes, and 1,597 re-inspections, focusing on damage to the load-bearing structure of houses and other buildings. From the re-checks, the following have emerged so far:

• 439 houses and other buildings classified as dangerous for use, i.e. “red”,

• 376 houses and other buildings characterized as temporarily – until they are repaired – unsuitable for use, i.e. “yellow”, and

• 782 houses and other buildings characterized as suitable for use with minor repairs, i.e. “green”.

It is noted that after the census autopsy, the house or building of other use is marked with a “green” line and the alleged owner is given the number of the census card according to autopsy, while after the re-check, when required, the house or building of other use it is marked with the colored triangle corresponding to the damage of the building and its usability, i.e. “green”, “yellow” and “red”.

From the first moment, the framework of state aid has been activated, both for the aid for the compensation of household goods and for simple repair work, as well as for the housing assistance. Particularly:

(a) Support for household goods and simple repair work – up to 6,000 euros

Aid is provided for simple repair work or the replacement of household goods, which amounts to up to 6,000 euros for a main residence, depending on the recording of the severity of the damage by the General Directorate for Rehabilitation of the Effects of Natural Disasters (GDAEFK) of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Policy Protection.

In particular, three levels have been defined according to the amount of damage to household goods, where small damages correspond to 2,000 euros, medium damages correspond to 4,000 euros and large damages correspond to 6,000 euros. Especially for residences located in specific areas that were universally affected by the floods, as they arose in collaboration with the Fire Brigade, the aid for simple repair work or even the replacement of household goods, has initially been determined at the amount of 6,000 euros. These subsidies also apply to secondary residences, limited to 50% of the amounts paid for the main residences. The above aid is paid through the arogi.gov.gr platform, after the necessary crossings and checks, with special care for the areas that have been universally affected.

If the aid for basic living needs is included in the above aid, which amounts to 600 euros for an affected main residence, then, cumulatively, the amount of aid is set to the amount of 6,600 euros per main residence.

(b) Housing allowance for the residence – up to 120,000 euros

The housing assistance scheme, which is also implemented by GDAEFK, includes support for the restoration of homes and building facilities, where 80% of the repair or restoration of the building is covered by free government aid and 20% by an interest-free loan with the guarantee of the Greek government. The figure concerns all three categories of affected buildings, as they emerge after the autopsies. That is, “green”, “yellow” or “red” houses or other buildings affected by inflow of water due to the flood phenomenon. Specifically:

• “Green” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “green” line during the census autopsy or the “green” triangle during the re-inspection, may receive housing assistance support:

(a) either in the amount of 60 euros per square meter for a flooded building up to 150 square meters of affected level, with a study drawn up by the engineers of GDAEFK, at no cost to those affected,

(b) either through the submission of a study on the damage to the building by a private engineer in case the affected person considers that the damage exceeds 60 euros per square meter for the flooded building, with a maximum limit in this case of 150 euros per square meter – maintaining the 150 square meter limit.

Therefore, in the case of a “green” building of 150 square meters, the increase in state aid can reach either 7,200 euros through the study by the service, or 18,000 euros through the study by a private engineer.

• “Yellow” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “yellow” triangle during the re-check, may receive:

(a) first aid against housing assistance in the amount of 5,000 euros through the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, with the amount in question then offset by the reinforcement of housing assistance, and

(b) housing assistance assistance through the submission of a study on the damage of the building to the load-bearing structure – but also to the non-load-bearing elements of the building – by a private engineer, with a maximum limit in this case of 350 euros per square meter, maintaining the limit of 150 square meters.

Therefore, in the case of a “yellow” building of 150 square meters, the strengthening of the state aid can reach 42,000 euros for the repair of the building with a study by a private engineer.

“Red” houses or other buildings, i.e. those with a “red” triangle during re-inspection, may receive:

(a) first aid against housing assistance in the amount of 10,000 euros through the first aid platform, arogi.gov.gr, with the amount in question then offset by the reinforcement of housing assistance, and

(b) housing assistance assistance through the submission of a study by a private engineer for the reconstruction of the building, with a maximum limit in this case of 1,000 euros per square meter – maintaining the limit of 150 square meters.

Therefore, in the case of a “red” building of 150 square meters, the strengthening of the state aid can reach 120,000 euros for the reconstruction of the building with the issuance of a building permit by the competent YDOM by a private engineer.

(c) Reconstruction of houses and other buildings from cobblestones

Also, it is noted that houses or other buildings made of cobblestones which have been damaged by the flood phenomenon and have been characterized as temporarily unsuitable for use, i.e. “yellow”, if the affected owners wish to demolish them, they may apply to the GDAEFK for its re-inspection in order to examine the possibility of characterizing them as buildings constructed from inferior materials that cannot be repaired. In this case, the buildings characterized as constructed from inferior materials enter the category of buildings designated as “red” and can receive the corresponding housing assistance support to reconstruct their building based on modern materials and data.

Finally, it should be noted that an extension of the housing benefit scheme is being considered to further assist flood-affected homeowners to build new buildings – to replace those deemed at risk of collapse.