This is a sight which has become more and more common on the streets of Greece.<br/> The rise in homelessness is being attributed to those who have been hit by the economic crisis and become unemployed.<br/> Greece's Deputy Health Minister says this is a new category of homeless person for the country.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER MARKOS BOLARIS:<br/> "In the last months we have now added a new category, what we call the 'new homeless'. In other words citizens who became unemployed and could not pay their bills, so they were evicted. This is a new profile for Greek society."<br/> One NGO estimates the number of homeless in the country has risen by 25 percent since 2009.<br/> The increase has stretched Greek resources to the limit.<br/> This shelter for homeless people is run by the church.<br/> Father Ignatius says the government has mishandled the crisis.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) FATHER IGNATIUS WHO RUNS THE SHELTER:<br/> "We don't have the room; the problem has grown and increased. The needs are great, but there is little charity because of the way the state and its leaders have handled things and destroyed everything."<br/> The pressure on shelters like these shows little signs of easing.<br/> Unemployment in Greece is now over 18 percent, while 20 percent of the population is threatened with poverty.<br/> Simon Hanna, Reuters.
