Amid poverty surge, bus helps Greece's homeless

Outside the headquarters of Greece's governing political party is a moving snapshot of what a seven-year financial crisis can do to a country: A central Athens square where refugees rest, police chase petty criminals, and the homeless wait for meals handed out by charities.

Now there's a new feature on the square — a converted public bus where people living on the streets can take a hot shower and pick up clean underwear and a plastic bag of toiletries handed out by volunteers.

After a 10-minute visit, one man, his eyes still red from the hot water, looked overcome with emotion. "It's much better. Thank you. I thank them for this," said the man, who declined to provide his name, before slowly walking away.

Poverty rates have surged here since the start of the crisis in late 2009, with nearly 36 percent of the country living in financial distress, according to the...