This interactive co-creation workshop will present the City of Athens' Energy Poverty Alleviation Office (EPAO) and its integrated approach to supporting energy-vulnerable households through targeted energy advice, technical guidance and social support measures.

The challenge: How can cities effectively identify, reach and engage energy-vulnerable households that are often difficult to reach through mainstream services, and build the trust needed for them to access available support?

Following a short introduction to the EPAO and its experience in Athens, participants will work together on this practical challenge. They will explore how cities can overcome barriers such as lack of information, limited trust in institutions, social exclusion and difficulties in identifying households most in need, while ensuring that support reaches those who may not actively seek assistance.

Through facilitated working groups, participants will exchange experiences from their cities, identify common barriers and successful approaches, and co-develop practical and transferable solutions for improving outreach, citizen engagement and access to energy-poverty support.

The session will conclude with a plenary discussion in which groups will present their proposed solutions and reflect on how the approaches discussed could be adapted to different local contexts.

SUBMIT A CITY CHALLENGE BY 11 SEPTEMBER. 

Across European cities, people experiencing poverty often face difficulties accessing the services they need, due to barriers such as complex administrative procedures, lack of information, stigma, digital exclusion, discrimination and fragmented support systems. These barriers can be particularly concentrated in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, where distance from services and limited local provision further deepen exclusion. Cities play a key role in ensuring that support reaches those who need it most by improving accessibility, affordability and coordination across sectors. They can develop place-based and user-centred approaches through local service points, outreach activities and more coordinated support pathways, particularly for groups facing multiple vulnerabilities, including people with disabilities, migrants, older people, single parents and people experiencing homelessness.

SUBMIT A CITY CHALLENGE BY 11 SEPTEMBER. 

Poverty is often transmitted across generations, with risks increasing during key life transitions such as childhood, entering the labour market, forming a family or moving into retirement. Cities play a key role in breaking these cycles by ensuring access to essential services and developing integrated, life-course approaches to prevention and inclusion. 

Option 1: Child poverty: Strengthening local action through integrated support 

In the EU, one in four children is at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with poverty in childhood affecting children’s wellbeing, development and future opportunities. Children growing up in disadvantaged households are more exposed to barriers in accessing essential services, including early childhood education and care, healthcare, healthy nutrition and adequate housing. Cities play a key role in implementing the European Child Guarantee locally by coordinating services across sectors, supporting families and ensuring that children most at risk, including those facing multiple vulnerabilities, receive accessible and effective support. 

Option 2: Poverty in old age: Supporting dignified ageing  

In 2025, 18.8% of people aged 65 or over in the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with older women particularly affected (21.2% compared to 15.8% of men). Poverty in later life is often linked to lower lifetime earnings, unequal career paths, increased care needs, health challenges and social isolation. Cities play an important role in preventing old-age poverty by improving access to healthcare, long-term care, social services and opportunities for participation, while supporting older residents to remain active and connected within their communities. 

This site visit will showcase the Energy Poverty Alleviation Office (EPAO)’s integrated policy approach to ensuring a fair and inclusive energy transition, linking climate action with social cohesion and energy justice. Drawing on the experience of the EU-funded POWERPOOR project, participants will explore innovative, transferable solutions to address energy poverty and empower energy-vulnerable households. Recognised as a best practice at both national and European levels, EPAO's multi-stakeholder governance model demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can support local implementation of the European Green Deal and contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This site visit will offer participants an overview of EPAO's role, policies, and initiatives in promoting social inclusion and energy transition. The programme includes a presentation and analysis of EPAO's key actions, policies, and projects, a showcase of its measures and benefits, meetings with stakeholders and beneficiaries, and interactive discussions to encourage knowledge exchange, peer learning, and participant engagement.

Integrated approach to urban poverty: Cross Forum exchange with the Environment Forum (tbc)

How can cities ensure that migrants and refugees can effectively access essential services, exercise their rights and participate in local life? The City of Athens has developed a multi-actor approach that brings together municipal services and civil society organisations to support integration and address the complex and interconnected needs of migrant and refugee communities.

The site visit will take place at the Migrant Integration Centre (KEM) in Maizonos Street, which hosts front-desk services and a range of integration activities, with the participation of the Athens Coordination Centre for Migrants and Refugees Issues (ACCMR). Participants will have the opportunity to visit the facilities and explore how the two structures contribute to a coordinated local approach to migrant inclusion.

A particular focus will be placed on the cooperation between the City of Athens and civil society organisations, and on how this partnership is translated into concrete integration measures for third-country nationals. The visit will showcase the methodologies, services and practical tools used to bring support closer to people, improve access to information and services, and create pathways towards social inclusion and participation.

It will provide an opportunity to discuss how cities can move beyond fragmented service provision and develop more integrated, accessible and people-centred local support ecosystems, particularly for people facing multiple barriers to accessing essential services and social rights.

Integrated approach to urban poverty: Cross Forum exchange with the Digital Forum (tbc)

The Municipal Multidisciplinary Health Centres of the City of Athens provide an integrated, community-based model of primary healthcare and social support, with a particular focus on ensuring access to essential services for vulnerable and socially excluded groups.

The centres provide free primary healthcare and preventive health services, alongside psychosocial support, social counselling, legal and employment advice, information on social benefits, and referrals to other public services and civil society organisations. This integrated approach aims to address not only people’s immediate health needs, but also the wider social and economic factors that can contribute to poverty, exclusion and inequalities in access to essential services.

This approach is particularly relevant when considering children and families experiencing vulnerability, as health inequalities can be closely interconnected with wider social and economic challenges affecting the household. By bringing healthcare, psychosocial support and links to social services closer to residents, municipal structures can contribute to earlier identification of needs and to more coordinated pathways of support for vulnerable individuals and families.

The site visit will provide participants with the opportunity to explore how a city can bring health and social services closer to residents through local, accessible and people-centred structures. It will showcase the experience of Athens in addressing barriers to healthcare and social support, particularly for vulnerable groups, and in connecting medical care with wider social services and pathways to support.

The visit will include a presentation of the Municipal Multidisciplinary Health Centres, a tour of the facilities (at the 6th Municipal Health Centre, Chanion 4, Athens 112 57) and an exchange with health and social care professionals on how the centres identify local needs, provide integrated support and connect residents with other services. The visit will offer an opportunity to discuss how municipalities can strengthen inclusive access to essential services, address health and social inequalities at neighbourhood level, and develop integrated, family- and community-centred responses to poverty and social exclusion. 

Integrated approach to urban poverty: Cross forum exchange with the Mobility Forum (tbc)