(In)Visible and (un)heard: social workers’ involvement in advocating for policymaking and change for homelessness in Greece – experiences from professionals and policymakers

Homelessness affects diverse populations and contexts worldwide, but the responses from different countries vary significantly. The Greek experience underscores the complexity of homelessness, particularly in the absence of a comprehensive national counting system and policies that offer only brief, superficial relief rather than long-term solutions. This article is based on a doctoral research project that examines the role and practices of social workers in the social integration of people experiencing homelessness in Athens. Using a qualitative design, in-depth, walking interviews were conducted with (1) ten people experiencing homelessness, (2) 16 social workers in the field of homelessness and (3) five policymakers. This article focuses on data from the interviews with social workers and social policymakers, discussing their views and experiences of social work’s role in policymaking for homelessness. It is revealed that despite social workers’ constant struggle in advocating for people’s needs, their voices are ignored and unheard. The article concludes that by using the profession’s institutions and community coalitions, social work can advocate for inclusive processes in policymaking through which people’s and professionals’ voices and experiences will be both visible and heard.