Accessibility Recommendations for National Housing Policy from the Association of Disabled People in Yunanistan

The Yunanistan Engelliler Ulusal Konfederasyonu (E.S.A.meA.) presented its comprehensive recommendations on the country's National Housing Policy Strategy to the authorities. The recommendations were shared with the public through an official letter addressed to the Sosyal Uyum ve Aile Bakanı Dimitra Mihailidu and via the open governance platform opengov.gr. The organization emphasizes that the strategy must be reshaped by considering the core principles of the Birleşmiş Milletler Engelli Hakları Sözleşmesi. This initiative is considered a critical step to ensure that disabled individuals can access the right to housing equally and uninterruptedly within the framework of fundamental human rights. Authorities are demanded to place the voice and needs of the disabled community at the center of the housing policy determination process.

The report prepared by the Konfederasyon highlights the profound and multidimensional problems disabled individuals face in the process of acquiring housing. The rapid increase in general housing prices and rental costs in recent years affects disabled people, who already live on a tight budget, much more severely. The extremely limited stock of housing with accessible features in the market is shown as one of the biggest reasons for this situation. Finding a home with suitable infrastructure entails much higher costs compared to a standard home, and this situation places a severe economic burden on disabled individuals. Under these adverse conditions, many people are forced to leave their current homes due to the progression of their disability or aging.

The lack of sufficiently accessible and affordable housing in society pushes disabled individuals into greater social isolation and institutionalization. Many disabled people are forced to be placed in care facilities instead of living an independent life in society. Individuals trying to leave these facilities and integrate into society face insecure, inadequate, and inappropriate housing conditions. Furthermore, it is stated that they face prejudice and discrimination by landlords and real estate agents during housing rental or purchase processes. These discriminatory attitudes constitute one of the biggest societal barriers to disabled individuals living freely and with dignity.

The high energy costs required for disabled people to live independently are another significant issue highlighted in the report. Bill expenses become much higher due to the continuous use of medical devices, special climate control needs, and supportive equipment. In addition to this, restrictions on disabled individuals' access to banking and financial services make it almost impossible for them to use mortgage loans or secure housing renovation financing. All these factors combine to leave disabled citizens directly facing the risk of energy and housing poverty. Making housing accessible will provide great convenience not only for disabled people but also for the elderly population, helping to alleviate the crisis created by demographic aging.

In the aforementioned series of strategic recommendations, it is requested that the expressions in the National Housing Policy text be changed and the concept of 'accessible' be officially added to the text. It is proposed to take concrete steps such as increased income limits for disabled individuals, the right to priority in financial support programs, and tax incentives for landlords for accessibility modifications. Furthermore, it is requested that the extra costs incurred in the process of making housing accessible be covered by the state or supported through subsidies. It is planned to create a national database to register the existing accessible housing stock and establish support units to provide technical consultancy to individuals. The organization states that if these policies are implemented, a revolutionary progress will be made in the field of disabled rights in Yunanistan and the vision of an equal society will become a reality.