Indicator history

The housing situation of migrants in Italy has been at the centre of public attention for several years, since housing is a widely discussed issue at National level, especially with regard to the weakest groups of the population. It is not a coincidence that cases of discrimination in the housing sector are the most common, after those in the employment sector, reaching 16.2% of the calls of UNAR Contact Centre. 57.1 % of these calls pertain to tension with neighbours, 9.5% concern low rent public houses, 7.3% rented houses and 7.1% estate agents. The NGO CIDIS conducted a research on the housing difficulties of migrants in two Italian regions, pointing to stereotypes and lack of trust as the main obstacles faced by migrants in the access to respectful housing. In fact, the research shows that the house owners judge migrants in negative terms in many aspects: as poorly reliable in the management of a house, with bad relationships with neighbours and at risk of not paying rent. All these prejudices hinder significantly their access to housing.
Furthermore, the economic crisis, with its negative impact on the labour market, has also affected migrant’s access to housing. The report on global rights 2010 indicates that immigrant citizens have less possibilities to buy a house than Italians. The purchase of housing by immigrants has decreased by 23,7% between 2007 and 2008, stopping the positive trends of the previous four years. Evictions for non payment of rent have increased heavily because of a rise in rent and an increase in the number of people losing their job. In the northern regions of Italy, evicted families of immigrant origin are 22% of all evicted families.

Source:

ENAR SHADOW REPORT 2009/2010 - Racism and Discrimination in Italy by Laura Di Pasquale - http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/Italy.pdf

ENAR SHADOW REPORT 2008 - Racism and Discrimination in Italy by Camilla Bencini, Sara Cerretelli, Laura Di Pasquale - http://cms.horus.be/files/99935/MediaArchive/national/Italy%20-%20SR%202008.pdf