The Coordination of Housing Unions and Collectives calls for a rally and march in defence of the right to housing, on Saturday, 26 April, at 5 PM, in Kolokotronis Square, in recognition of the Global Housing Action Day.

Key points from their announcement:

“Housing is a right, not a commodity! With the slogan ‘Homes for People, Not for Profit,’ the first-ever global (previously only European) Housing Action Day is being organised again this year.”

“In Greece, a country historically characterised by high homeownership rates until the 2010 crisis, yet with no social housing policies, the housing problem now affects a significant portion of the population. The housing crisis is unfolding on multiple fronts:

  • The surge in rent prices, which is a direct result of the lack of public price regulation (such as rent caps, rent controls, etc.), combined with the sharp increase in tourism and short-term rentals, as well as the hundreds of thousands of vacant properties.
  • The attack on housing through excessive debt, leading to thousands of people losing their homes each year to foreclosures.
  • The overall rise in housing costs relative to average incomes. Greece ranks first in terms of housing expenses as a percentage of household income, with a staggering 45% of income spent on housing.
  • And all of this, compounded by the complete absence of public – social housing policies.”

“Governments and state institutions protect and strengthen the ‘market,’ undermining the constitutional right to housing.

Around the world, housing movements are organising and fighting for the right to housing, through the creation of tenants’ unions, collectives against foreclosures and evictions, social housing advocacy organisations, self-organised housing production communities, and squats.

We unite our voice and our struggle with these movements.”

“We demand:

  • Protection for tenants from rent increases and evictions. The implementation of rent caps.
  • Protection of primary residences from electronic auctions and subsequent evictions, with measures such as the protection of primary residences from confiscation. Abolishing electronic auctions. Debt forgiveness.
  • Worker, social, and student housing to meet all needs.
  • Filling up the empty homes! In Greece today, there are over 600,000 vacant properties. It is unconscionable that people are homeless or living in unacceptable housing conditions.

We participate in the Global Housing Action Day and call for a rally and march on Saturday, 26 April, at 5 PM, in Kolokotronis Square.”

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