Homelessness is much deeper than the absence of a roof: Daria’s story

Daria, a volunteer at Ithaca, reminds us that homelessness is much deeper than the absence of a roof—it’s a cycle of social exclusion that requires empathy and action to break.

Returning with purpose

Daria didn’t come to Greece for a holiday. She returned with a deep desire to contribute meaningfully, to stand beside people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion.

As she says:

“I really love Greece. I love Greece, Cyprus, the people, the culture, the religion, the way of life, the atmosphere. It’s a unique city in the world and you can see that through the people, the buildings, the environment. The atmosphere here is amazing. I’ve always wanted to volunteer. I like helping people.”

Her connection with the country and her drive to contribute led her to a meaningful journey of volunteering:

“This is something very important to me — to make a difference in people’s lives in any way I can. I wanted to start somewhere. And Greece feels familiar to me, because I’ve been here before. I have friends here, and I really wanted to come back — but not just for a vacation. This time, I wanted to return and do something meaningful. Because I had already seen… people on the streets, I had seen things going wrong or problems in the city. I was searching online and somehow found this program and felt a strong urge to apply and come back. And it was an amazing decision.”

Seeing beyond appearances

Her engagement with homelessness was no coincidence. Daria had already witnessed social exclusion up close through her work in Australian prisons.

“It’s a very interesting story. Before I moved to Dubai, I worked in prisons in Australia. I’ve seen the system. I’ve heard stories from people who unfortunately ended up on the streets or came from families that didn’t have the basics, or the right information or education to continue their lives properly.”

That experience showed her that homelessness isn’t just about the absence of a home, but part of a vicious cycle of exclusion:

“It continued with their children, their siblings, and they got stuck in this cycle. I heard their stories, they opened up to me, and I saw the system from the inside. It’s something that when you see it, you say ‘why are they there?’ But when you start listening and understanding their stories, you see that it’s something much deeper than just being homeless.”

Human worth beyond labels

Daria reminds us that everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of their social status:

“It’s hard to change… to learn something new, especially when no one ever showed you. And this is something I’m very passionate about, because I believe everyone deserves a second chance. At the end of the day, whether you’re homeless, or have a huge villa by the sea or private jets — I don’t care. I live in Dubai, I’ve seen it all. But at the end of the day, we’re all human.”

The power of presence and care

Daria doesn’t stop at offering material help — she believes in the power of human connection.

“Some of the most wonderful people I’ve met were homeless or had difficult childhoods. And it takes courage, it takes strength to make that change in their lives. So if I can offer some information or help, or just be present — even without speaking — just to show positivity, to show that someone cares. Many don’t know this.”

“They think that because they’re homeless or on the street, no one cares, or people look at them differently. But that’s not true. There are people who care and want to make a difference. And this is something I’m very, very passionate about.”

A message of hope

In the end, Daria shares a powerful message for all:

“I would say the message is: give people a chance. And people who are homeless right now need to give themselves a chance. Giving up is not an option. At the end of the day, we can all hit rock bottom, but there’s always growth, always improvement. Whether we like it or not, it happens. But it’s a choice if we want that change. And there are people who want to help.”

“And for those who want to volunteer to help people experiencing homelessness, I highly encourage it. The things you see on the streets and are afraid to approach open up a new world for you and make you truly appreciate what you have in life. And every big problem suddenly feels small. Do you know what I mean? It’s amazing. It humbles you. It opens your eyes to a bigger picture of this world.”

“And I think that’s beautiful, because it really changes your mindset and your life. And just by helping people — whether they’re homeless or not — it will always have a big impact on your life and you’ll feel great afterward. So I highly recommend it to everyone.”

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Learn more & stay connected

Daria reminds us that homelessness is not just a social issue, but a human reality that demands empathy, understanding, and collective action.

At Ithaca, we work every day to support people facing housing insecurity, offering practical assistance, access to services, and—above all—dignity and respect.

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