Athens Mayor Haris Doukas addressed the financial insecurity of Greek households and the measures the City of Athens is taking to support residents in a post on Facebook.
He pointed to Eurostat data showing that about one in two Greeks cannot cover an unexpected expense, compared with 29.2% across the European Union. Based on this, the mayor emphasized the need to strengthen social protection at the local government level as well.
In his post, he presented a series of measures covering access to health services, support for families facing financial hardship, efforts to address energy poverty and lower costs for certain groups of residents.
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Free health services and support for families
According to figures shared by Doukas, the seven Municipal Clinics in Athens have handled 83,492 appointments in 2026, with the goal of providing free basic health care.
At the same time, the City of Athens Reception and Solidarity Center (KYADA) provides support to families dealing with financial difficulties. Its programs include covering the school supply needs of 700 children each year.
Measures against energy poverty
The mayor also highlighted the work of the Office for Addressing Energy Poverty. According to the post, more than 1,000 households have received support through measures that include exemptions from municipal fees, energy assistance and access to free electricity.
In addition, 100 air conditioners were provided this summer to families facing energy vulnerability.
Municipal fee exemptions and measures for new parents
The measures also include keeping municipal fees unchanged, as well as fully exempting certain groups of residents. These include low-income families, single-parent families, families with three or more children and people with disabilities.
Doukas also pointed to a new provision for families who had a child in 2026. If their annual household income is below 30,000 euros, they will be exempt for one year from cleaning and lighting fees on their primary residence.
In closing, the mayor stressed the need to strengthen social cohesion at the local, national and European levels, noting that municipalities can help address the everyday challenges households face.