The project Staying at Home – Help at Home was launched in the Municipality of Palaio Faliro, in the context of measures adopted by the Government of Greece to avoid the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The municipality has faced numerous challenges as a result of the measures, therefore the project aimed at fostering the resilience and crisis management of the municipality during a pandemic. The project was implemented during the first wave of the pandemic; however, it was reactivated after the restrictive measures that followed (i.e. the second and third waves of the pandemic).
The project started by reinforcing the municipality’s staff, by recruiting new experts and public administration officials. On 20 March 2020, the project initiated a hotline where citizens could call and ask questions or share their concerns. In addition, citizens could obtain information about the Covid-19 pandemic and register their requests via the municipality’s website and email. Social workers attached to the project responded to requests and questions, and updated information of public relevance.
Furthermore, social workers also provided immediate services related to the medical care of the citizens, but also shopping and making physical bill payments for people in risk groups. Food and cleaning products were delivered to citizens who were not mobile, and home deliveries of books were made in cooperation with the municipal library. In addition, the social workers of the project carried out onsite visits and social surveys for people belonging to vulnerable groups of the population in need of assistance.