The HELIOS programme, which was run by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and supported the integration of beneficiaries of international and temporary protection into Greek society, concluded on 30 November. The HELIOS programme, which also benefitted from EU funding, has been featured as a good practice on EWSI.

IOM is now working closely with national authorities to develop a new integration support programme. The new initiative will sustain and expand the support previously provided by the HELIOS programme, and beneficiaries will be informed as soon as possible of the new opportunities and resources it offers.

While new registrations and lease agreements under the programme were accepted until 31 August, key services such as integration monitoring, employment counseling, integration courses, and housing support were discontinued as of 1 September. From September to November, rental subsidies continued to be provided, but only for those who were already receiving this support prior to September 2024. During this transitional period, two Integration Learning Centers (ILCs) remained operational to facilitate in-person submission of rental subsidy documents.

The programme’s dual mission was 1) to empower beneficiaries to achieve autonomy and independence, integrating seamlessly into Greek society, and 2) to support Greek authorities in establishing a sustainable integration framework as part of the broader migration management system. It provided a comprehensive set of services, including:

• Integration courses: implementation of integration courses at Integration Learning Centres across the country. Each course cycle lasted 6 months and included modules on learning the Greek language, cultural orientation, work readiness, and other skills.
• Housing support: assistance for beneficiaries to secure independent housing in rented apartments under their names, providing subsidies for rental and relocation costs, and opportunities for networking with apartment owners.
• Employment support: provision of individual employment opportunities and enhancement of work readiness through counseling services, access to job-related certifications, and networking with potential employers.
• monitoring integration progress: evaluation of beneficiaries' integration progress to ensure they are capable of effectively interacting with Greek public services.
• Host community awareness: creating opportunities for interaction between migrants and host communities, highlighting the importance of migrant integration into Greek society.

The HELIOS programme was implemented in collaboration with several significant partners, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR), Solidarity Now, INTERSOS, and many others. From 2022 it was funded by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, following earlier support from Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).