Homelessness

Just a few days before the government opens its mass vaccination program against Covid-19 to the general population, authorities are concerned about tens of thousands of people whose social characteristics could prevent them from getting the jab.

Until recently the Crisis Center in Sofia housed those in need only in the evening, but because of the extremely low temperatures, homeless people are now welcome there all day.

Nearly 90 people are benefiting from the Crisis Center service at this time, NOVA TV reports.

Staff at an additional 40 hospitals will be admitted into Greece's coronavirus vaccination drive starting Monday and another 36 will join on January 11, according to Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias.

The ministry's aim, he said in a briefing last week, is to have more than 60,000 health workers immunized against Covid-19 by January 20.

A Greek aid mission sent to Croatia in response to the country's devastating earthquake arrived on Wednesday, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.

The aid package includes tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sheets, heaters and other essential items for the people left homeless by the quake.

Mytilineos, in collaboration with the KNOWL social enterprise for life-long learning, has successfully completed the first social accelerator for the integration of the homeless, newly homeless and people living in unsafe housing or unsuitable areas.

The social accelerator, called HoMellon, aims to integrate these groups into the job market.

These instructions were printed on a small flyer distributed by the Croatian Homeless Network (Hrvatska mreža za beskućnike), which proved crucial for the homeless population of Zagreb in the early days of the pandemic, when they served as a rare and valuable source of information.

Istanbul's hotels are hosting homeless people as part of an initiative launched by the city's local authorities.

A stage actor made 60 Turkish Liras ($7.8) in just half an hour while taking a stroll in the main street of the southern province of Adana disguised as a beggar for a social experiment on Nov. 21.

"In our social experiment we showed how the beggars pile on the agony," said Hüseyin Şen, a 65-year-old actor.

Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (center), seen here with Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis (left), on Wednesday attended the opening of a municipal homeless shelter in the center of the capital. Speaking to reporters, Sakellaropoulou said vulnerable people should be "surrounded by care," adding that the need had been accentuated by the coronavirus pandemic.