Rome, Oct. 14 (LaPresse) – “In Italy, housing poverty is the most alarming, the increase in evictions across the country is dramatic.” This is what Massimiliano Signifredi from the Sant’Egidio community told LaPresse, discussing Istat data on poverty. “We know how much poverty is linked to the absence of a home. In large cities, we are seeing too many homeless people; Istat data count about 96,000 homeless across the country, mainly concentrated in large cities,” he continues.
“It is unacceptable that in cities like Rome, Milan, or Treviso in the North, there are many situations that could be addressed with temporary housing and night shelters,” Signifredi explains. “With the support of the community, we have managed to create cohousing units, where several people live together in the same accommodation and share expenses, living better because by staying in their own home, they can face daily costs by pooling their limited resources.”
“Every year, when we present our data on poverty and solidarity, usually in December before Christmas, we make more specific requests to the institutions. Last year, ahead of the Jubilee year, we focused specifically on the housing emergency and evictions because it seemed this issue had not been adequately addressed. There were resources available to beautify our cities, especially Rome, with PNRR funds, and we asked to expand the offer. Some progress has been made, at least in the municipality of Rome, where recently shelters have opened that are available only at night for the homeless.”