Paper short abstract:

The loss of dwelling is a major issue that emerged in Greece due to the economic crisis. Thoughts and emotions of homeless people shall be explained; hardships of everyday life and survival strategies shall be depicted; and their aspirations for the future shall be analysed.

Paper long abstract:

Over the past few years the emergence of homeless people in Greece has become an acute phenomenon due to the economic crisis. These are people who have either lost their privately-owned properties in auctions or people who used to rent flats and could no longer pay the rent. So, individuals or even families have lost their home. New forms of temporary self-dwelling emerged: bridges have become home for many people, cars have housed entire families and abandoned houses have been re-inhabited.

This paper is based on a field research carried out in a municipality of Athens, between 2010 and 2015. It focuses on cases of people who live and survive –temporarily or permanently - in the street –not for their entire life, but since 2009, when they lost their houses due to the economic crisis. In particular, the following subjects shall be analysed: a) The importance of a house for people like them, not only from the practical side of housing, but also as a symbol of success and social progress. b) The abandonment of home due to an eviction or auction as a psychological traumatic experience (thoughts and emotions of shame and anger). c) How is life organised nowadays without a dwelling? Which new forms of temporary self-dwelling in the street have these people come up with? d) Which are the emotions created by the state of homelessness? Do they react and try to act? Or do they have a passive attitude? e) Optimistic aspirations and pessimistic prospects for the future.