Larnaca Municipality, in collaboration with the bishop of Kition and Social Welfare Services, announced on Monday (22/4) the “Xenios” Support and Reintegration Programme for the Homeless.
This programme was presented at a press conference held at the Multifunctional Social Welfare and Employment Centre of the Larnaca Municipality, attended by the bishop of Kition, Nektarios, and the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou.
The “Xenios” programme, named after “Xenios Zeus” as the protector of guests, aims to provide support and immediate assistance to homeless individuals.
According to the Larnaca Municipality, “Xenios” addresses the long-standing issue of homelessness and aims to assist in the social reintegration of the homeless through a series of actions:
a) Intervention and assessment
b) Temporary housing, psychosocial support, and education
c) Reintegration Policy
The programme is expected to operate as follows:
Identification, intervention, and assessment: Once a case is identified, an immediate assessment of the individual’s situation will be carried out, followed by the signing of an inclusion agreement with rules and a schedule for their stay at the contracted accommodation. The rules will vary depending on the case (e.g., substance abuse, alcoholism, psychiatric incidents, etc.).
Temporary housing: After assessment and agreement signing, the individual will be immediately transferred to the contracted accommodation and provided with appropriate care (bathing, food, rest area, and protection). Additionally, connections will be made with the Larnaca Municipality’s Social Supermarket and the St. George Soup Kitchen for food provision.
Psychosocial support and education: Subsequently, psychosocial support and appropriate education will be provided to identify the individual’s real needs. Specific goals will be set with the programme’s responsible officer, and necessary actions will be taken following the needs assessment.
Reintegration Policy: After the above steps are completed, the individual will be referred and networked with various services to ensure a permanent residence and proceed with necessary actions through referrals to competent services for benefit assurance or renewal of documents/benefits or job finding (e.g., Social Welfare Services, Public Employment Service, Welfare Benefits Management Service, Mental Health Services).
“The strategic planning of the social policy of the Larnaca Municipality aims primarily at the welfare of all layers of society. By focusing on today’s citizens’ needs, it has strengthened and enriched their relevant actions, upgrading their social services. The general goal of the ‘Xenios’ Programme is that no fellow citizen should remain on the streets,” stated the Larnaca Municipality.
The programme is supervised by the Social Welfare Committee of the Municipality and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
