Thessaloniki Municipality approves five-year housing crisis plan

The Thessaloniki Municipal Council has approved a five-year strategic plan aimed at addressing the housing crisis and improving access to affordable housing. Presented by Dimitris Skoutas, the Deputy Mayor of Social Policy, Solidarity, and Public Health, the initiative targets vulnerable groups including students, young people, low-income families, retirees, and single-parent households.

The strategy is built upon five primary pillars:

1. Social leasing through the activation of existing housing. 2. Creation of new residential stock by utilizing public and municipal properties. 3. Implementation of social barter systems on municipal plots. 4. Provision of support and advisory services via a new certified housing mediation institution. 5. Regulation of short-term rentals to mitigate their negative impact on the local housing market.

A cross-party working group has been established to monitor the implementation of these proposals throughout the current municipal term.