In a development that has reignited concerns about the escalating homelessness crisis in Cyprus, particularly in Limassol, a 45-year-old homeless Russian woman was found dead last Saturday night in an abandoned property in the Enaerios area.
This incident follows last year’s discovery of skeletal remains near a city hospital, identified as those of homeless foreigners.
Cyprus is witnessing an alarming trend where individuals are being forced onto the streets, seeking shelter in deserted buildings, vehicles, and even public spaces like benches and parks.
Official sources reveal a troubling lack of comprehensive data on the extent of homelessness in the country.
As of 2023, exact figures remain elusive, with state services yet to finalize their counts. According to data from the Social Welfare Services, the first half of 2023 alone saw 137 individuals approach the state for shelter.
Breakdown by cities shows Nicosia with 40 cases (19 Cypriots, 10 European nationals, and 11 from third countries), Limassol with 58 (20 Cypriots, 19 Europeans, and 19 third-country nationals), and Paphos with 32 (11 Cypriots, 15 Europeans, and 6 third-country nationals). Larnaca and Famagusta districts report lower, single-digit homelessness figures.
The Limassol Municipality’s Support and Reintegration Centre for the Homeless also confirms the lack of a complete picture for 2023. Christina Tsambarta, head of social programmes, reports 190 new homeless cases in 2022, highlighting the challenge of tracking the chronically homeless who frequently relocate.
Of the 190 cases managed by the centre in 2022, 136 were identified through citizen reports and staff intervention, with 54 seeking help. Cypriot citizens comprised 65% of these cases, 17% were third-country nationals, and 16% Europeans.
The situation is further complicated by the transient nature of asylum seekers, who often move between locations, making tracking efforts more arduous. “We are on the streets daily to locate these cases and take immediate action,” she said, adding that actions are taken according to their needs and requests. She also noted that all procedures for their rights are carried out, and services are provided by the centre, such as hot meals and showers.
In statements to Phileleftheros, Limassol mayor Nicos Nicolaides said that “even if there is just one homeless person, the municipality has a moral and political responsibility to support them.” He highlighted that for four years now, the Support and Reintegration Centre for the Homeless has been in operation, where “the issue is not approached just to ensure someone a night’s stay, but to support them in a difficult situation and to reintegrate them into society. To find permanent shelter and employment.”
He explained that the Centre is staffed with expert personnel and psychologists who manage dozens of cases and are constantly on the streets. “They do not leave any case of a person facing a problem, whether they are on the street or at risk of being there, without inviting them to the Centre to be helped and stand on their feet.”
