November 2025 Monthly Report

At Wave in November 2025, we served 2,562 hot meals, welcomed 49 new arrivals, charged 134 phones and power banks, ran 69 showers, and washed 71 laundry loads, distributed 261 hygiene packages, and 535 clothing items. 

 

The total population we supported this month was 1,713.

 

November Updates

Some months are busier than others. And November was the busiest of the year at our Community Centre, with an increased attendance of almost 10% compared to October 2025. It also happened twice that we distributed the highest number of meals in a single day (241). Sundays are especially busy, with a daily attendance of over 90 people per day – while our average attendance is around 50-60 people per day. The reason behind it can be traced to the fact that we now hold our hygiene pack distributions on Sundays, which means that more people are coming to our centre. The reason for distributing hygiene packs on Sunday is to ensure that we also serve the Community Members who work throughout the week. This trend is reflected in the significant increase in the demands for NFI (non-Food Items): we’ve distributed +40% hygiene packs and +42% of clothes compared to the previous month.

Blanket Distribution

As we’re heading towards the winter months and the temperatures in Northern Greece are slowly dropping, we decided to organise a distribution of blankets at our center. This distribution was aimed for all our Community Members, to help them to stay warm, especially for those who are homeless and sleeping in squats. On that day, we distributed 55 blankets with a ticket system, offering everyone the chance to choose their blanket, depending on their preference. It was a very successful day, once again with the help of our community members, and we received a lot of very positive feedback.

New cuts announced on Food, Housing and Financial Aid
Recently, Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum announced some important changes in the budget allocated for asylum seekers and refugees: the first measures, implemented immediately, are projected to cut over €288 million in allocated funds over the next two years. Central to the reforms is the abolition of the HELIOS housing program and reduction of 30% of food spending in reception facilities (from 400 to 288 million euros). Financial assistance for asylum recipients will also be reduced by up to 50%, resulting in monthly allowances that cover only essential needs.

These cuts have been announced to mark a significant shift in Greece’s migration policy, transitioning to a system that ‘emphasises work, training, and integration’. From our point of view, these cuts will only result in disrupting the already insufficiently funded services available for refugee seekers and to lower the living conditions at the reception facilities, forcing more people to look elsewhere to fulfill their basic needs for food, housing and clothing. This can only result in more pressure on the independent organisations to step in and fill the gaps, try to support the one in need.