MUNICIPALITIES: 134 PRACTICES
The Region of Thessaly is one of the thirteen regions of Greece. It consists of vast agricultural lands, which is why its inhabitants are mainly fed by agriculture and animal husbandry. Notable places that can be visited are Kalambaka with Meteora, Pyli with its unique Monasteries and Bridges, Elati, the Pertouli Ski Center of the Municipality of Pyli, Pelion and Lake N. Plastira.
The best way to say something is to do it. The Region of Thessaly, with strategic planning and in close cooperation with Municipalities and agencies, finances and deploys a protection net, giving a helping hand to those who are unable to achieve their "wishes" by breaking social and economic inequalities. The planning of the region is based on the creation of infrastructure for special groups, promotes modern education and finances social structures and programs for all without exclusions, especially for our fellow human beings in need.
Vulnerable social groups: the unemployed, the homeless, migrants and Roma, supporting people with disabilities, caring for the elderly, protecting women who are victims of violence and fighting poverty, inequality and discrimination.
Social inclusion and the fight against poverty are among the most important priorities of the Region. In order to make the best use of the available resources, two studies were carried out entitled "Regional Strategy for Social Integration and Combating Poverty" (PESKE) and "Regional Strategy for the Integration of Roma". The studies aim to combat poverty and promotion of social integration in the Region of Thessaly and include a detailed Action Plan with reference to each potential source of funding based on a recording and assessment of the existing situation. Applying the above studies, the Region of Thessaly implemented an important project program in the specific field. More specifically:
-More than 180 million euros is the budget for the actions in the PEP of Thessaly - financed by the European Social Fund for the promotion of employment, the social integration of groups such as the unemployed, the homeless, immigrants and the Roma, the support of people with disabilities , caring for the elderly, protecting women who are victims of violence and fighting poverty, inequality and discrimination.
-For welfare infrastructure and actions, the budget in the PEP of Thessaly exceeds 52 million euros with projects such as the CHARA I Center in Neapoli Larissa for the education and creative employment of people with autism and the new building of the Special School of Larissa, built in Neapoli Larissa and offers professional education and training to people with disabilities, the Center for Culture and Education of Vulnerable Groups (689,663 euros) in Averof, the KETHEA "Pilotos" in Volos which supports adolescent and adult drug users and their families (900,000 euros). In Karditsa, the Center for Social Activities (3.3 million euros) which will be operated by I.M. Thessaliotidos and Fanariofersalon, the upgrading of the facilities of the I. Metropolis children's camp in Neochori, (800,000 euros) and the expansion of the Theodoride Support Center for people with disabilities "Horizontes" (1.1 million euros), in Trikala, the modernization of the facilities of the former TCHP - Social Welfare Center of the Thessaly Region (2.3 million euros), the Elderly Care Unit of I.M. Stagon and Meteora, (3.6 million euros including its equipment) and the creation of a Social Restaurant (201,500 euros) and an Open Day Center for the Homeless to be operated by the Municipality. The Trikala Social Restaurant is going to operate in the Antonio building, whose reconstruction has also been financed by the Region of Thessaly with 223,000 euros.
- The Region of Thessaly has equipped all the Special Schools of Thessaly with special machinery and equipment for special education and training with a budget of 4.2 million euros.
-From 2015 until today, projects related to the specialized educational support and inclusion of students with disabilities or special educational needs, with a total budget of 1.7 million euros, have been included in the NSRF of Thessaly
- The Region of Thessaly finances with 1.8 million euros the hiring of 61 Special Staff to support 110 students with disabilities for the school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
- The Region of Thessaly transports 16,000 students daily for free to and from their schools. 75 million euros have been allocated for this purpose
- The Region of Thessaly supports low-income families in order to be able to send infants to nurseries for free. These are the well-known vouchers, for which the Region has 35 million euros.
-For the 2019-2020 school year, the Region of Thessaly increased the funding to 8.7 million euros (from 3.61 million euros), so that more than 5,000 children from families below the poverty line and children with special needs throughout Thessaly to have care and custody services in Nursery Schools
- The Region of Thessaly subsidizes low-income households with 6.2 million euros to replace oil heating systems with natural gas systems
- The Region of Thessaly implements Public Health Prevention Programs, with free examinations for uninsured fellow citizens, in the Mobile Units of the 5th Ministry of Health
- More than one million euros is the amount allocated by the Region of Thessaly to support institutions such as nursing homes, orphanages, structures for the protection of children with disabilities and charitable associations.
-Through the European Aid to the Needy Fund, thousands of fellow citizens were supported in the Region of Thessaly with food and basic material assistance, amounting to 27.6 million euros.
The Region of Thessaly supports:
-5 structures to support female victims of violence in Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Karditsa. These are hostels for abused women and Counseling Centers.
- The continuation of operation of Day Care and Day Care Centers for Persons with Disabilities.
- The continuation of the Day Care Centers for the Elderly.
- Social Grocers and Social Pharmacies in Larissa, Volos, Trikala and Karditsa.
-Community Centers in almost all -23 out of 25- Thessalian municipalities, with a total budget of 4.8 million euros for the next 3 years. Those of the Community Centers operating in municipalities that have Roma settlements, also include a Roma annex, covering all 8 Roma settlements in Thessaly with specialized services. In addition, the Regional Social Integration Observatory of Thessaly functions as an intermediate connecting link between the Community Centers and the Ministry. To date, more than 22,000 people have benefited from the Community Centers in the Region of Thessaly, while more than 70,000 people have visited them for information and services.
- Homeless support structures: Funds homeless hostels in Volos, Larissa, Trikala and Karditsa.
For the 2020-2021 school year, the budget was more than doubled to 13.2 million euros so that 5,628 children and children with special needs throughout Thessaly have free access to public and private nurseries and nurseries and Creative Employment Centers. In total, from 2015 until today, more than 23,000 children from families below the poverty line and children with special needs throughout Thessaly have benefited from the Region's programs and have been placed in nurseries, daycare centers and KDAP.
In total, more than 3,000 families were supported with basic goods for daily survival. And a nutritional allowance of more than 4 million euros was granted to more than 1,000 kidney patients and transplant recipients.
To date, more than 22,000 people have benefited from the Community Centers in the Region of Thessaly, while more than 70,000 people have visited them for information and services.
Thessaly Region
With Municipalities and agencies such as the Church, the Social Welfare Center, Schools, etc.
We finance and implement a wide range of welfare structures and actions with a deep social footprint, which offer many people, equal opportunities and possibilities to improve their quality of life. With synergies and in cooperation with the competent bodies and specialist scientists, we stand with respect and interest on the side of vulnerable social groups, we support social inclusion and every effort that fights inequalities, poverty and discrimination. Creating a cohesive, inclusive society is a challenge made all the more urgent by the economic and health crisis. At the same time, we strengthen employment by covering the operating expenses and the salary costs of the employees in all the Social Structures of the Region because the most effective way to fight poverty is the maintenance and creation of jobs and not exclusively the granting of benefits. All the projects financed by the Region of Thessaly reflect the social contribution of the local government and confirm its primary function, which is to be at the service of the citizens with projects, actions and programs that penetrate their desires.
