Lived experiences of homelessness: findings from a qualitative study in Greece

Homelessness represents one of the most extreme forms of poverty and social exclusion. Despite its scale, the lived experiences and perspectives of homeless people remain critically underexplored, particularly in the Greek context. This qualitative study aimed to provide an in-depth understanding of the causes of homelessness, the everyday realities and institutional support as perceived and narrated by those who have experienced it. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants – beneficiaries of the Ministry’s “Housing and Employment for the Homeless” program implemented by an NGO in the greater Athens area. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed (a) a complex interplay of multiple structural and individual factors that led to homelessness, (b) the challenges of everyday survival, (c) the wide-ranging consequences of homelessness experience on physical and mental health, (d) the role of stigma alongside expressions of solidarity and resilience, and (e) experiences of institutional support, marked by the valued role of professionals in contrast to significant inadequacies in welfare provision. The findings underscore the urgency of moving from emergency-driven interventions toward holistic, rights-based and adequately resourced homelessness policies in Greece, grounded in Housing First principles, prevention-oriented frameworks and lived-experience inclusion in policy design and governance.