"The Steering Wheel of Our Life" — an online Bookstore for empowerment and creativity of the Charitable Foundation for the support of the Homeless
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A HOUSE OF LOVE The charitable foundation “Steering Wheel of Life”
A short introduction: about the foundation “Steering Wheel of Life”, a non-profit organization. The Idea, the Vision, the Decision, the Steps, the Goal, the Creation, the Sustainability, the Expectation and the Big Change.
I DON’T HAVE OXYGEN … A message that says it all. In three words, it expresses everyone’s desire for a more just and sustainable life. It expresses everyone’s desire for real change, for a society based on respect, love, support, equal opportunities for all, without traditional discrimination.
All of you who took part – in February 2025 – in this magnificent and unprecedented movement, without politicians and their flags, have already voted for change.
You have voted to take the helm of your life into your own hands, because you have realized, as the popular proverb says: “If you don’t have nails to scratch yourself…”.
So since you, the thousands of protestors, pioneers of change, in this peaceful way, have decided to claim your right and your desire for a better life, a better future, in a sustainable environment, you should know that you have already taken the first and most important step towards this goal.
Lay the foundations for a new society and, in the first stage, the creation of a non-profit organization. A foundation whose purpose will be to support vulnerable social groups through social solidarity actions.
The promotion of environmental awareness and education.
In collaboration with local and international bodies. Creation of educational and promotional material – printed & digital. Participation in or undertaking of European and state programs.
The foundation’s resources come from: Donations, bequests, sponsorships. State and/or European funding. Income from NGO actions – seminars, events, publications, eshop. Collaborations with public and private bodies.
And the name of the foundation, since we have finally decided to take the helm of our lives into our own hands – let’s call it: “timoni zois” meaning: Steering wheel of our life.
- Members will have the opportunity to propose to the foundation’s board proposals aimed at the common good.
- But not proposals aimed at individual interest. We must finally leave behind us, the old habits.
- We therefore invite you to register, in your own foundation, your own home.
- A home that will always be open to all.
Registration is free!
The idea to create a non-profit organization with the main purpose of housing the homeless is old, from when I was living in Australia. Returning to Greece I started looking for ways to implement my idea. starting with the first online store with my Books (for income in order to advance my idea).
Luckily (if there are any coincidences) I met a young person who had also thought of something similar and tried in 2020 through Social Media and on the occasion of a homeless woman who he found sleeping in her car for months and living in inhumane conditions to prepare something.
Initially to help this woman, Lena, who finally managed to change her life again.
So a great mobilization began on social media, on welfare channels and wherever he had the opportunity to make his voice heard.
The case took on a great dimension. Journalists, social workers and ordinary citizens responded to his Initiative.
A community was created on Facebook initially, and a group that, after mutual agreement, took food and other basic necessities to Lena.
They achieved their initial goal of being heard, when an journalist from TV chanel “Open”, spoke with this person who took the initiative to start the public appeal for Lena’s help.
This caused a great deal of uproar at first because independent citizens took initiatives and officially criticized the Municipality of Athens and the Government for the Legislative Framework on Homelessness, having knowledge of the Legislative Frameworks and with the help of volunteer Legal Advisors.
A community was created on Facebook that exchanged ideas and opinions and began their first move to ask for the help of citizens after they saw that they would not be able to get by with the Municipality. They published ads for help finding a job, housing and created a group on Facebook for basic necessities. From clothes, furniture, etc. with the aim of giving them away and not selling them through the group.
They made a bold move to publicize Lena’s problem and urge people to contribute financially, so a bank account was posted.
The response was great from all over Greece and from Greeks abroad. Although the manager of Piraeus Bank at the branch in this particular area was not happy at all, but he did not know who he was dealing with.
He tried to lock the account and not allow withdrawals, which we had strict conditions for donors to write that it was a donation for such and such a woman for such and such a purpose. The young man, within 10 minutes, with a large envelope with legislative frameworks and a paper that a lawyer had prepared for him, made a disgrace of the bank manager in the store where he worked. This young man had predicted it.
In the end, they did not manage to make any more substantial progress because they did not even have help, on the contrary, they had stumbles and many tried to exploit their community, so every action that had been started remained inactive.
The good thing about the story is that through the community for finding things to give away with members arranging everything among themselves, 10,000 thousand members had gathered while the page and every action was suspended.
In the last month that we have been involved a little with this community, we have managed to go from 10,000 members to over 20,000 in less than a month and continue strong.
We are preparing the page and this community to be connected to our foundation, to help in informing and finding new members, and as many members as you are involved with Facebook can help us become even more.
So start with the first simple step, register for the “Timoni Zois“ (Steering Wheel of Life) for free and invite your friends to do the same.
Our community will grow a lot and for all of us who have the same ideas it is important and essential to “Get together and see what we will do” in the situation that has been brought to us.
In Australia, all the homeless people – of which there are unfortunately quite a few – are forced to sleep in caravans or tents or on benches, because the rents are skyrocketing.
Although they receive unemployment benefits, old age, and rent assistance, from the State, they are not enough for a decent life. The benefits, and the low pensions (for those who do not have superannuation), are 500 dollars a week, while the rents are from 400 to 600 dollars a week for a detached house and 250 to 350 for a studio in an apartment building.
So they remain in this situation and as the rents rise, the number of homeless people increase.
Meanwhile, the real estate agencies that take on the rental work select tenants with a good income and a stable job. In many cases, they hold a secret auction among the candidates for each house to rent. Because I had started writing a book on the subject of homelessness, I attended several open days for houses to rent and saw 20 to 30 young couples and families with children waiting in line at each house to make an offer.
I remembered an old idea that my father had, to create an association of homeless people, who, with some form of government subsidy, perhaps a bank loan, or even a donation from a wealthy donor or a large company, would all build a complex of rooms with a shared kitchen and living room and contribute their benefits to a common fund for their feeding.
However, he was unable to realize his vision due to financing difficulties.
Regarding fundraising, there is a method that is used in Australia and other countries. Several charities have a chain of opportunity stores, where they sell all kinds of second-hand items at low prices, from clothing to furniture, from kitchenware to tools, from toys to paintings, and all of this comes from donations from the public and from companies.
Of course, all profits are tax-free, and their operation consists of volunteers, without a salary, only insurance and some privileges.
So I thought of starting something similar here in our homeland.
First stage
Attendance of permanent members from all over the country, but also from abroad.. It will definitely be necessary to properly inform our fellow citizens in order for the system to operate easily, quickly, with stability, seriousness and responsibility. The entire success lies in the responsibility of all members, so we will try to register members who believe in our charitable purpose, who can offer the association some service, some hours of volunteer work, perhaps a good talk for new members to join, perhaps a collection of second-hand items that other members will offer for the bargain store that we are about to open.
All new members, knowing our purpose, will contribute to the correct and undivided support for the smooth operation and the upward course of our charitable work.
Starting with a well-structured web page and eshop, where second-hand items such as furniture, clothing, shoes, toys, decorations, books, paintings, household appliances, kitchen items, bedding, outdoor items, tools and more will be listed, which will be sold to the general public at low prices. All products for sale will come from donations from individuals and companies.
It will operate with the legal coverage of a non-profit organization.
Members who offer voluntary work out of their home, they will have basic insurance coverage, and travel expenses.
Extensive advertising on the internet and in local media, to inform everyone about the purpose of the association and the mass offering of items.
The profits from the sales, sponsorships, donations and offers, will contribute to the program of building housing complexes, in cooperation with banks, State and European programs.
To find suitable plots, the foundation will approach the State, the Municipalities, the army and the church. Offers from private individuals are also welcome.
The plans for building housing complexes will emphasize green construction. There will also be enough outdoor space for planting trees and creating gardens.
The tenants (formerly homeless) will pay a typical small rent and if they are unemployed, the foundation will act for a rent subsidy from the competent authorities.
They will sign a five-year contract, with the prospect of renewal for further five-year periods.
The right to housing is not transferred to third parties, nor is subletting allowed.
They will also be responsible for the cleanliness of the buildings, as well as the care of the communal gardens.
Self suficiency
Production of vegetables and fruits, will be taught and organised for all tenants, in order to learn and become self reliant for food.
Education
All these people (ex homeless) will be going through educational programs, with the help of members on voluntary basis, such as teachers, sycologists, tecnicians, profesionals, etc – to uplifting their knowledge and talents, in order to help them Incorporated within the society.
When the housing project is implemented, the organisation, with the profits it will continue to make, will subsidize new couples for the repair or construction of first home, outside of large urban centers Of course, other ideas for sustainable programs that have a public benefit will also be examined.
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November 5, 2025