Attica's 17,700 homeless to get mobile showers, laundries

The government plans to provide mobile showers and laundries, as well as specialized personnel, to help homeless people in Athens.

Alternate Minister for Social Solidarity Theano Fotiou revealed the plans in a response to a question on Thursday in Parliament.

Fotiou said there are also plans to create more shelters for homeless people in Athens as welfare services have 240 buildings that are not being used.

Citing a University of Crete study, Fotiou said there are roughly 17,700 homeless people in Attica.

The minister said they are divided into two groups: those who are sleeping on the streets and those who are in shelters.

She stated that the government received some 90,000 applications for rent subsidies of between 70 and 220 euros per month under the ?humanitarian crisis? law passed earlier this year.

She said another 210,000 applications had been received for meal coupons and free electricity since the scheme was launched in April.