Housing Crisis Is Driving Doctors and Teachers Away from Greece’s Islands, SYRIZA Warns
The Dodecanese branch of SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance has warned that Greece’s housing crisis is making it increasingly difficult for doctors, nurses, teachers and other public servants to remain on the islands, arguing that soaring rents are undermining essential public services.
In a press statement, the party says rising housing costs, combined with the rapid expansion of short-term rental platforms, have left many public employees unable to secure affordable accommodation. According to the statement, the problem is contributing to staff shortages in critical sectors, including healthcare, with Rhodes General Hospital cited as an example of mounting pressure during the tourist season.
SYRIZA criticizes the government’s housing policy, arguing that rent subsidies alone cannot solve the problem without expanding affordable housing and regulating the short-term rental market.
The party proposes a package of measures that includes tighter regulation of short-term rentals, expanded social housing, free accommodation for doctors and healthcare workers serving on the islands during their first three years, and financial incentives for young people to purchase, renovate and live in homes within traditional island communities.
According to the statement, housing and healthcare should be treated as fundamental social rights rather than market commodities, with the party calling for a comprehensive public housing strategy aimed at strengthening island communities and ensuring adequate staffing of essential public services.
