From Undocumented and Homeless to Refugee Status: The Impact of Direct Legal Aid in Athens

In March 2022, the ELIL team in Athens provided legal aid to an Iranian couple. They were undocumented and experiencing homelessness; one of them suffered from serious depression and had no access to medical services. Despite the lawyer’s efforts to expedite the process, the appointment for registering their asylum claim was set for September 2022.

In July, however, the authorities informed ELIL that a slot had opened up the next day. After registering their claim, the couple gained access to medical services and cash assistance, and our legal team provided several preparation sessions to prepare the couple to share their story during the asylum interview. Due to the complexity of the case, the ELIL team was in frequent contact with the asylum authorities and with social workers and psychologists. In September 2022, the lawyer was present during both interviews and submitted a memo to support their case. Shortly thereafter, both applicants were granted refugee status.

The ELIL team then arranged for the couple to apply for passports and IDs through the Police Department for Aliens. Although one of the applicants received the documents before the end of 2022, the other had to visit the service multiple times due to bureaucratic errors. ELIL intervened to resolve the issue and by February 2023 both applicants had received their documents.

This case highlights the key role that direct legal aid can play in supporting highly vulnerable individuals who risk being disproportionately impacted by systemic failures or gaps in asylum and reception procedures. The assistance ELIL provided helped the couple access vital services, see their rights realised and, ultimately, receive refugee status.