Nikos Kourachanis

Nikos Kourachanis is an Assistant Professor of Social Policy and Housing at the Department of Social Policy of Panteion University in Athens, Greece. Born in 1987, he has established himself as a prominent scholar examining social citizenship and social integration policies for vulnerable populations including homeless individuals, migrants, and refugees.

His research focuses on the intersection of housing policy, welfare state dynamics, and social exclusion in the Greek context, particularly during and after the economic crisis. His work critically examines how austerity policies and neoliberal transformations have reshaped social protection systems and affected marginalized groups. Kourachanis's scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on the ways in which housing serves as a foundation for social inclusion or exclusion, with particular attention to the 'Staircase of Transition' versus 'Housing First' models and their impact on beneficiaries' capabilities.

His publications reveal a critical perspective on the retreat of the welfare state, the emergence of alternative welfare provision through civil society organizations, and the human rights implications of current policy approaches. He has documented how emergency accommodation models often fail to promote genuine social integration and instead perpetuate marginalization, particularly for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece's hotspot system.

• Assistant Professor of Social Policy and Housing, Department of Social Policy, Panteion University
• Author of six books including "Citizenship and Social Policy" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020)
• Teaches undergraduate course "Housing policy and social inequalities" and postgraduate courses on social policy and housing
• Regular office hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 17.00-18.00 in office D20, New Building

Kourachanis has conducted extensive field research examining housing programs for homeless people and asylum seekers in Greece, analyzing how different approaches impact beneficiaries' capabilities for a well-lived life. His work on refugee housing policies critically assesses the humanitarian implications of Greece's management of refugee flows, particularly the hotspot approach and the ESTIA program. His comparative welfare state analysis examines homelessness policies across different welfare regime types with particular attention to how austerity measures have reshaped social protection systems.