A newly appointed teacher who had been living in a tent with her four-year-old daughter at the Agioi Apostoli campsite has found a temporary housing solution after struggling to find accommodation in Chania.
The case attracted widespread attention and prompted the Municipality of Apokoronas to intervene, offering the teacher temporary accommodation at the former Girls’ School in Vamos, near the area where she has been appointed.
Municipality offers temporary accommodation
Apokoronas Mayor Charalampos Kouki anakis said he contacted the teacher by telephone and offered her accommodation at the Vamos Girls’ School, a municipal property that the local authority can use to address the immediate need.
The teacher accepted the offer and is expected to move into the facility immediately.
“For us, this is not an act of hospitality. It is a matter of humanity, dignity and responsibility,” the mayor said.
He highlighted the difficulties teachers face when they take up posts in areas where housing costs have risen sharply.
“Homes are becoming scarce and rents are rising”
Koukianakis said it is difficult to expect teachers to meet the demands of their profession when they cannot secure basic living conditions for themselves and their families.
Apokoronas has become a highly popular tourist destination, but the mayor said its growth also has a difficult side.
“Homes are becoming scarce, rents are rising and teachers’ salaries are not keeping pace with the cost of living,” he said.
The mayor stressed that the problem extends beyond teachers. Workers, young families and people who want to remain in the area and build their lives there also struggle to find affordable accommodation.
Municipality plans a wider safety net
According to Koukianakis, the Municipality of Apokoronas is already working on two specific solutions that go beyond the use of municipal property.
The municipality plans to explore every available option, including municipal and other facilities, while also seeking partnerships with private property owners and local organisations.
“Our goal is to create a real safety net for teachers and workers who come to Apokoronas to contribute,” Koukianakis said.
“Apokoronas cannot be a place where we have schools but cannot accommodate the people who teach in them,” he added.
Mayor appeals for homes and accommodation
The mayor also called on local residents to support the effort.
A vacant house, an apartment available for rent or a space that could temporarily accommodate a teacher or family could make a significant difference, he said.
“We are asking people to stand by one another because, ultimately, that is what Apokoronas is: a place that does not leave people alone,” Koukianakis said.
