The study presented by the Social Housing Foundation highlights the critical situation of the Lombard capital and warns the rest of the country
Despite efforts, Milan's social housing supply is still far from meeting the needs of a city where around 25% of families have a monthly income of between 1,600 and 2,700 euros and would need easier access. in the real estate rental market. Currently, the Lombard capital has 16,681 rent-controlled rental buildings, most of which are built by construction funds and cooperatives. Over the last ten years, 4,000 homes have been built for subsidized sale and 3,551 for rental, of which only 10% is allocated to social rents for vulnerable people supported by third sector organizations.
The survey on social housing in Milan
Simply put, in Milan the supply of affordable housing is unable to satisfy the growing demand, as highlighted by the results of a survey carried out by a network of experts including Cresme, Politecnico di Milano, Nomisma, Bocconi, EvaLab and Advance. The study, presented by the Social Housing Foundation on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary, took stock of social housing in the city, showing that despite certain progress, the resources available are not sufficient to cope with the housing crisis.
Expensive rents in Milan, Mayor Beppe Sala's plan
It is precisely these families that the affordable housing plan announced at the end of September by the mayor of Milan Beppe Sala is aimed at. The objective of the measure is to offer these families the possibility of renting apartments for around 500 euros per month. The price should be “between 40 and 90 euros per square meter per year”. On the other hand, there is the question of social housing, with 2,800 homes in the town currently vacant and awaiting renovation. “We can’t keep up,” said housing councilor Guido Bardelli. This is why, he added, “we are trying to understand how to increase supply and reorganize public goods, especially in the center.”
Access to capital
The case of Milan is extreme, but the problem is found throughout Italy. Despite the presence of some initiatives, the main problem remains access to the capital necessary to support these projects. Investments in social housing require long-term funds, with payback periods exceeding 30 years and rates below market rates. To meet this challenge, Bocconi research proposes the creation of a national guarantee fund, inspired by French and Dutch experiences, which could encourage the development of accessible housing projects. The Foundation for Social Housing, founded in 2004 at the initiative of the Cariplo Foundation, continues to promote solutions to the housing emergency in Italy, with particular attention to young couples, the elderly, students and migrants .
