Providing Holistic Refugee Support in Heraklion

Summary

The Municipality of Heraklion commits to intensify its efforts to support refugees and asylum seekers integrate into local society and pledges to work towards this direction via a series of inclusive and innovative policies/actions:

1. Update and further materialize from the beginning of 2024 and onwards, the Heraklion Local Plan of Integration for Migrants and Refugees with particular focus on ensuring livelihoods, employability, women’s empowerment, combating discriminations, and promoting gender equality of refugees and migrants. This Local Plan has been developed in consultation with local refugee and migrant communities. 
2. In close collaboration with the Heraklion Development Agency, explore available opportunities and apply to fund projects that will offer holistic support to local refugee communities.
3. Update of the local policy on homelessness, to facilitate the inclusion of refugees in all aspects of the local municipal homelessness schemes/services and especially allow access of non-Greek speaking recognized refugees to the Heraklion Center for Homeless Persons.
4. Organize and lead a local coordination Working Group bringing together refugee and migrant communities, international organizations, public and private stakeholders, in order to design and produce durable solutions for refugees and asylum seekers, especially in the directions of integration and overall protection.