Poverty and housing precariousness in rural areas through the lens of social resilience: Policy Factsheets

This publication comprises a series of Policy Fact Sheets derived from the research project “Poverty and Housing Precariousness in Rural Areas through the lens of Social Resilience” (POVE.R.RE.), funded by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI), under the 2nd Call for H.F.R.I. Research Projects for the Support of Faculty Members and Researchers (Panteion University, Dept. of Social Policy, 2022–2025). Based on thorough field research conducted in three different rural regions of Greece (Karditsa, Rethymno, Rhodopi), the briefs aim to highlight critical and often overlooked aspects of poverty and housing insecurity, as well as to promote targeted policy interventions. The series of policy fact sheets examines a wide range of topics, emphasizing specific dimensions of poverty and housing insecurity, along with structural challenges characterizing rural areas. Special attention is given to the spatial dimension of inequalities, the gendered and cultural facets of poverty and intergenerational social deprivation, passive dependency on social benefits, and the impact of the climate crisis on rural households and local communities. Additionally, the briefs explore opportunities to strengthen local social resilience, active political participation, and the empowerment of rural communities through multi-level collaborations. A common thread throughout these topics is the need for holistic, spatially sensitive, and sustainable policies that promote social inclusion and sustainable, integrated rural development. The policy briefs are addressed to policymakers and implementers at the national, regional, and local levels, social and research organizations, as well as the broader public interested in issues of fair, resilient, and sustainable rural development and the reduction of inequalities.