A home to look forward the future

A home is an inalienable right and the foundation of every person’s life.
And yet, in Italy, thousands of individuals and families no longer have a home or are at risk of losing it.

We must prevent temporary fragility from turning into long-term distress and social exclusion. To do this, we must intervene in time.

In the last year:

Home: Identity, Affection, and Life Plans

The housing crisis is affecting increasingly large sections of the population, including those who, until recently, felt secure. The consequences are dramatic. A home is much more than just a roof that offers protection and shelter.
A home is a place of identity, self-care, affection, and relationships between the people living there. It is the foundation of our sense of belonging to the community and is essential for pursuing personal aspirations, making life plans, and looking toward the future with hope instead of fear.

The Housing network of Progetto Arca

Over the years, we have focused much of our efforts on housing services. Today, Progetto Arca housing network consists of 139 apartments—up from just 27 in 2013.

Most of these are public properties assigned through specific calls for applications, which Progetto Arca has renovated. They also include housing obtained on the free market, either rented or purchased, such as Cascina Vita Nova and Housing sociale Bodio, properties confiscated from organized crime such as Casa Arca degli Esposti, and properties obtained through charitable bequests and donations.

Not Just a Lifeline Against the Housing Emergency

In our apartments, we host homeless individuals, who have experienced life on the streets and in shelters, as well as international protection holders taking their first steps in our country within the Sistema di Accoglienza e Integrazione (SAI). We also welcome single mothers with children who lack a primary support network, families with minors evicted due to rent arrears, or those awaiting public housing, and low-income households that do not qualify for public housing but cannot afford private-market housing.

For each guest, we develop a tailored socio-educational project, focused on their individual needs, with the ultimate goal of achieving social, economic, and housing independence.

Thanks to our multidisciplinary teams – comprising social workers, educators, and caseworkers – we assist individuals in managing their home and navigating the initial adjustment period, which can be challenging, especially for those with a long history of street life. We help them build positive relationships with their neighborhood and community, as feeling part of the place where one lives is central to recovering personal well-being and social reintegration.

Together to Build Life Projects and a Future

Through regular visits and interviews, we support our guests in accessing local services and managing bureaucratic procedures, such as applying for subsidies and benefits, which they often do not know they are entitled to. At the same time, we assist them in seeking job opportunities, professional training courses, and development programs, recognizing and enhancing their existing skills and talents to foster renewed self-confidence.

For those who are already working or have a source of income and can share the cost of managing the apartment as a first step toward taking responsibility, we provide financial education and savings support. This is essential for helping them become more aware of their spending habits and develop the financial capacity needed to transition to independent and lasting housing solutions.