Livadia
A win-win situation for newcomers and the local economy
Key Takeaways
- 1
The example of Livadia proves that if city authorities are committed to creating structures to welcome refugees, it can have multiple benefits for both the refugees themselves and for the local community.
- 2
Good communication with locals has prevented negative and racist reactions and has been key to the success of housing programmes.
- 3
Refugees were accommodated in the city centre rather than in designated hotspots, improving integration and dialogue with other residents.
What is unique about the city?
Better integration through accommodation in the city centre: Livadia was the first medium-sized Greek municipality, after Athens and Thessaloniki, to take the initiative to welcome refugees. In November 2016, in cooperation with UNHCR, it implemented the Emergency Support for Integration and Accommodation programme (ESTIA). Since then, over 1,500 refugees have been accommodated in city centre apartments.
What are the key factors?
An open dialogue between city and citizens: The success of Livadia’s refugee housing programme comes down to a few central factors. The first was a communications strategy based on dialogue with city residents, helping to create acceptance for the policy. Moreover, accommodating refugees in the city centre has also served to stimulate the local economy with financial help from the ESTIA programme. Also, Livadia’s housing programme is not managed by NGOs, as in Athens and Thessaloniki, but through the Public Benefit Enterprise of the Municipality of Levadia (KEDYL). This decision has had multiple benefits for both local society and refugees. For example, these programmes have also helped decrease unemployment amongst the city’s residents.
What are the greatest achievements so far?
From housing to comprehensive social support: Since 2016, 1,500 refugees have been housed in apartments in the city of Livadia. In addition to housing, KEDYL personnel also offer social support. Through the ESTIA programme refugee children have been enrolled in public schools, and people have received assistance on medical issues (e.g. making appointments). Lastly, KEDYL personnel also help refugees with paperwork – more specifically, the different official documents they need to deal with. This can be a very difficult task, as the law is constantly changing and different institutions, such as banks, may require different information.
Political activities and advocacy beyond the city level
Livadia was amongst the first municipalities to be part of the Cities Network for Integration.
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Download the full city report
The city report contains more information about the city’s migration and inclusion policies and selected local approaches. Report from 2021, updated in 2023.