Free Pizza and Other Resources for the Homeless in Milan
We spoke with Councilwoman Alice Arienta about resources for the homeless in Milan including food, shelter, healthcare and how COVID-19 impacted the homeless population. We also rounded up some ways for study abroad students to assist the homeless in Milan.
Emily Oetzman & David Acero Blondin
In 2018, Census Data reported that there were 2,608 homeless people on an average night in Milan, including those in shelters. Although the homelessness rate in Italy is not quite as high as other nations in the EU, there is warranted stress among those living at or below the poverty line, especially if they are not native to Italy. OECD data shows that Italy has the seventh highest poverty rate in the EU. Italy’s poverty gap is the third highest of the countries recorded in the OECD data. In addition to poverty, immigrant status can be a large factor in homlessness in Italy. According to the Borgen Project, foreign born residents only make up 10% of Italy’s 59.9 million population (roughly 5 million people) they make up an estimated 90% of those living in Italian slums. Italy also spends much less on housing per person than other countries, like the UK who are estimated to spend 40 times more than Italy.
According to the “European Red Crescent”, homelessness in Italy is a geographical phenomenon. Around 56% of the declared homeless are located in the north of the country, creating an overload in cities such as Milan. Central Italy holds 24% around and southern Italy around 20%.
However Milan is not the city with the highest homeless population in Italy. Rome and Palermo report the highest homeless populations in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had effects on homeless populations. Since many people lost work, and subsequently income, the number of homeless people increased. Specifically, the “number of single men who were homeless” says Milan councilwoman Alice Arienta. During the lockdowns following the COVID-19 pandemic some homeless people shared their experiences being fined by the police.
Thankfully, Italy does offer resources to those experiencing homelessness.
As of 2019, the city passed a new bill offering a universal basic income resource for Milan residents. Some citizenship and residency requirements must be met, along with a few others outlined in the decree.
As far as healthcare, it can be a struggle for those who are sleeping rough to receive. Doctors without Borders has been providing healthcare to the homeless in Milan. Additionally, the city of Milan has a few walk-in clinics that do not ask for any documents in order to receive care. This breaks an important barrier for those experiencing homelessness who sometimes do not have all of the documents typically necessary to receive healthcare. There is also a mobile unit that offers free care to those in Milan.
Many people experiencing homelessness also keep their pets with them. However most shelters do not welcome four-legged friends. What happens in those situations? “The city chose to make shelters where animals were welcome inside” says Arienta, “We do not want their animal(s) to be a reason they do not seek help or shelter”.
There are many soup kitchens and non-profit organizations that offer food to people who are homeless throughout Milan, like Food for Soul. There are even some that organize free pizza for people experiencing homelessness, according to Arienta.
Caritas also offers resources to the poor and homeless. They work closely with the church and are present in every district of the city. Although they are not offering shelter, they do offer a hot meal and a place to take a shower.
During the winter, there are extra resources available for those experiencing homelessness in order to keep them from the harsh conditions of the cold. Councilwoman Arienta says “The idea of the administration is improve living conditions…” which is why they implemented the additional safety measures and resources for the colder months.
But how can the homeless find out about these resources? Research says that 51% of those living in the streets of Milan had not heard of the Help Center for homeless.
Sometimes, the resources come to them. There is a phone number (02 8844 7646) citizens can call if they see someone sleeping in the streets who looks to be in rough condition or in need of medical attention. Some homeless people experience mental issues, which can make it hard for them so accept help. So what do you do in cases where the person declines help? Councilwoman Arienta said, “They are allowed to say no to any help offered to them. It is not easy [to get them to accept help], but you need to try”.
How can we as international students help the homeless in Italy? Since we are unable to vote, it can seem daunting to get involved with helping. But, there are places and ways to volunteer your time or resources that don’t required Italian citizenship. First, volunteering your time for organizations helping the homeless. Some organizations taking volunteers across Milan are the Homeless World Cup Foundation. Keep an eye out for temporary clothing drives that are organized throughout Milan.
Another way to help is by supporting Housing First organizations, if possible. Housing First is a strategy to tackle homelessness that’s primary goal is just as it sounds: housing first. It can be very hard for someone who is homeless to rehabilitate or get back on their feet without housing. By putting them in housing first, they have an address to apply for jobs, identification cards, and use for other necessities. Once their need for housing is met, they have more mental, emotional, and physical space to dedicate to getting back onto their feet.
Milan is not the only city welcoming refugees from Ukraine while still battling a homelessness problem. So, how is Milan balancing them both? Councilwoman Arienta explained that Ukrainian refugees are not allowed to stay in central shelters, since those spaces are reserved for those experiencing homelessness. They are given temporary housing for one to three days before being placed with a family in Milan, or just outside of. Arienta estimates for us that there were about seven thousand Ukrainian people living in Milan before the conflict started, so there is a strong Ukrainian community and population here.
Special thanks to Councilwoman Alicia Arienta for speaking with us for this article.
