The Social Organisation of the Municipality of Patras (KODIP) has recently launched full operation of the “Unit for Roma”, as part of the Community Centre, aiming at the upgrading of the living standards of Roma people and their full social integration. This will be achieved through the provision of specialised services, tailored to the specific challenges faced by the target group, that include: mediation – networking with useful administrative structures and services – information and awareness e.g. on health and education programmes - prevention - strengthening the educational process for adults and minors - counseling, training and promotion of employment opportunities.

The services are provided by social workers and administrative staff (mediator, teacher and health supervisor included) who have already started connecting with the Roma people living in settlements in the outskirts of Patras. Emphasis is put to organizing actions to help them improve their living conditions. Therefore, activities such as finding houses for rent, enrolling children in school and providing learning support to them, guidance for vaccinations, information to prevent the transmission of covid-19, provision of food and personal hygiene items, are included in this current phase of operation of the Unit.

Within this framework, KODIP, the host organization of Patras Community Centre-Unit for Roma, has submitted a proposal entitled "Rent subsidy for Roma in the Municipality of Patras", which is newly approved and will be funded by the Operational Programme of Western Greece" (2014-2020) through ESF funds for a three-year period. The proposed project targets full subsidy of house rent and partial cover of related bills (water supply, electricity, heating, etc.) for those Roma families who wish to leave the camp and re-settle in an apartment. The beneficiaries will be accompanied by the “Unit for Roma” staff through counseling, so that to tackle the new challenges they will be facing, by exploiting the specialized services provided by the Unit, as described above.

The Municipality of Patras and its Social Organisation (KODIP) provide a net of complementary services targeting the vulnerable groups of the city, by respecting human values and by providing equal treatment of all.