Abstract

The challenges and growing inequalities faced by citizens, primarily as a result of the economic, financial, and migration crisis in Europe, have led to the expansion of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) sector. Although resources play a key role in the growth and sustainability of SSE initiatives, very little research has been carried out in related fields. Based on data from the research project “Social and Solidarity Economy, Urban Communities and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups” and the application of a mixed-methods approach, this article examines various resource types of SSE organizations aiming to support refugees, migrants, precarious workers and unemployed in the Greek city of Heraklion (Greece). The quantitative results shed light on the main features of the SSE organizations studied and their role in supporting vulnerable groups by filling the gaps left by the welfare state, but, most importantly, their lack of different types of resources that could threaten their sustainability. The qualitative findings provide an enriched understanding of these human, material, cultural, and social–organizational resources. Overall, the article highlights the challenges that the SSE initiatives in the Greek urban context of Heraklion face in maintaining their sustainability and achieving their goal of supporting social groups in need.