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1. Housing

2. Social services

3. Health care

4. Financial services

5. Quality assurance

Housing

The Government of Cyprus has introduced a new unified housing policy (Νέα Ενιαία Στεγαστική Πολιτική) aimed at improving citizens' access to affordable housing, with a particular focus on young people and young couples. These measures collectively aim to enhance housing accessibility, promote community development, and improve the living conditions of citizens across Cyprus. 

The Cypriot Government provides financial assistance to young couples and/or individuals up to 41 years old, aiming to facilitate their access to housing (Σχέδιο Στεγαστικής Επιδότησης Νεαρών Ζευγαριών ή/και Νέων μέχρι 41 ετών). The plan was introduced in 2024 and it will last two years (2024 and 2025), while aiming at supporting at least 400 young couples in total.

Moreover, the Government provides land to families for acquiring their own homes and to develop communities located in rural, mountainous, remote, and disadvantaged areas. (Σχέδιο Διάθεσης Οικοπέδων σε Οικογένειες). Priority is given to families that meet the income criteria, and priority will be given to multi-child families, nuclear families and single-parent family / divorced individuals with parental responsibility for minor children.

Furthermore, financial assistance is provided upon decision of the Council of Ministers to support residents of communities with an altitude greater than or equal to 600 meters. All Cypriot and European citizens (including workers and/or employees) permanently residing in an owned or rented residence/property in communities with an altitude greater than or equal to 600 meters are entitled to financial assistance, provided they have been proven to reside in the community for at least the last two years continuously. (Στήριξη Κατοίκων Ορεινών και Απομακρυσμένων Κοινοτήτων.)

In the Republic of Cyprus, due to the Turkish invasion, refugees from Cyprus are entitled to financial support if they meet specific economic criteria without age restrictions (Στεγαστικά Σχέδια).

Social services

The Social Welfare Services (Υπηρεσίες Κοινωνικής Ευημερίας) of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare offer a number of State Institutions, which provide social services to the whole population, including young people. More specifically, state Institutions provide shelter, protection and care to children, the elderly and the disabled as their permanent home or as a place to stay for a few hours during the day. Below the main institutions are presented:

• Nicosia Youth Hostel (boys): The Nicosia Youth Hostel operates since 1957. It accommodates boys between 13 – 21 years of age, who can not stay elsewhere due to various reasons.

• Youth Hostel for teenage girls: The Youth Hostel for teenage girls started its operation on 3.3.1998. It is the only pan Cyprian State Institution that provides care and protection to teenage girls who can not stay elsewhere due to various reasons.

• Special State Institution for teenagers: Since November 1997, the Larnaca Youth Hostel has been refurbished upgraded and converted to the Special State Institution for teenagers. It accommodates teenagers who can not live elsewhere.

• “The Children’s House”: Since January 2018, “The Children’s House” provides a range of services to children who have been victims of sexual abuse and exploitation under the one roof. The Children's House seeks to serve justice in a child-friendly manner while ensuring children’s safety, security, protection and well-being through a multidisciplinary approach.

The management and operation of “The Children’s House” is entrusted to the “Hope For Children” CRC Policy Center by the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance, and the overall oversight of the Children’s House is carried out by the Social Welfare Services in co-operation with competent services.

The Children's House operates with the direct and systematic cooperation of the Cyprus Police, the Social Welfare Services, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth.

In addition, the same organization runs a Foster Care program, through which foster families are linked to children and/or youth, which are looking for a safe family environment.

The Children’s House is funded by the Social Welfare Services of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.

Apart from the above services, the Social Welfare Services offer various other benefits to vulnerable groups of people, including youth, which can be summarized to the following ones:

- Minimum Guaranteed Income (Δημόσιο Βοήθημα). Any person whose income and other financial resources are not sufficient to cover his/her basic and special needs, as defined by the Minimum Guaranteed Income Law (Law 109(I)/2014), may apply for the provision of Minimum Guaranteed Income to the Welfare Benefits Management Service of the Ministry of Social Welfare.

-   Material Cover for Applicants for International Protection (Κάλυψη Υλικών Συνθηκών για Αιτητές Διεθνούς Προστασίας) that include: 1) Financial assistance to cover basic needs (food, clothing and footwear), 2) Financial Assistance to cover small personal expenses, including electricity and water costs. 3) Financial assistance to cover rent allowance to the owner of a rented accommodation. 4) Advance Rent Payment.

- Financial Assistance Scheme for Former Children in the Care of the Director of Social Welfare Services after the age of 18 for rehabilitation purposes (Σχέδιο ΟικονομικήςΕνίσχυσης Πρώην Παιδιών Υπό Φροντίδα του Διευθυντή Υπηρεσιών Κοινωνικής Ευημερίαςμετά τα 18 τους χρόνια για σκοπούς αποκατάστασης). Financial support for former children in care after the age of 18, contributes to smooth socio-professional integration and rehabilitation and their rehabilitation and at the same time is in line with the principles of the Europe 2020 Strategy and the Commission Communication on the European Union Agenda for Rights of the Child, since it creates conditions for the social integration of a vulnerable group of the population.

Health care

The Ministry of Health (Υπουργείο Υγείας), offer several services aimed at supporting young people's health and well-being in Cyprus. These services include:

• Maternal and child welfare centres – Providing support and medical care for infants, children, and mothers.

• School Health Care Services – Ensuring students' health through screenings, health education, and first aid assistance.

• Vaccinations and Prevention of Communicable Diseases – Implementing immunization programs according to national guidelines.

• Health Education – Conducting awareness campaigns and educational sessions for students and school staff.

• Epidemiological Studies – Monitoring and preventing the spread of diseases.

• Services for Parents and Pregnant Women – Offering guidance and healthcare to expecting and new parents.

Financial services

Some of the top-level policy measures regarding financial services accessible to young people in Cyprus are the following:

1. Student Grants: Different Student Grants such as  Scholarships (Φοιτητική Χορηγία) or  Allowances  (Φοιτητικά Επιδόματα) are offered on the basis of socio-economic criteria to Cypriot students or students from other EU countries who reside permanently in the Republic of Cyprus or non-EU students who have graduate from Cypriot secondary schools and have at least on parent who is from Cyprus or another EU country. The different grants include: housing allowance per month, board allowance, grant for the purchase of university books and grant for the purchase or upgrade of a computer. The grants are offered by the Ministry of Finance.

2. Family benefits: Family benefits of the Republic of Cyprus include among others Child Benefit, Single Parent Benefit and the Grant for Special Assistance to single mothers for child birth.

3. Services and Social Benefits for persons with disabilities. These include allowances schemes for people with different kind of disabilities.

4. The Guaranteed Minimum Income (GMI) scheme (Ελάχιστο Εγγυημένο Εισόδημα). The GMI scheme is part of the Guaranteed Minimum Income and Social Benefits Law of 2014, which has two basic aims: a) to provide better support to groups who are exposed to the risk of poverty, and b) to improve the operational efficiency of the overall system. The monetary benefits available fall into two basic categories: a monthly payment to bring the beneficiary’s income up to the level of the GMI and monthly housing benefit, either as a rent allowance or as an allowance to cover interest on housing loans. A person may submit an application to become entitled to receive the GMI if certain conditions are met. 

5. The Unemployment Benefit (Επίδομα Ανεργίας) is provided to insured employees or optionally insured persons who are employed under any Cypriot employer and are aged between 16 and 63 years old. The benefit is provided for a period of 156 dates and various requirements apply (e.g. days of insured employment, etc.).

Quality assurance

It is not available whether systems of quality assurance of these inclusive services exist in Cyprus.