The Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas ETS in Florence has opened a five-person shared apartment in Sesto Fiorentino to help people granted international protection take the next step towards independent living.
Inaugurated on October 20 in piazza della Chiesa, the apartment has been made available by the parish of San Martino, with the support of parish priest Don Daniele Bani. It is intended for people who have completed their placement in Italy’s Reception and Integration System (SAI) and are preparing to establish independent lives.
Many have already found employment, built social networks and developed plans for the future, but face a significant obstacle: finding affordable housing in a rental market that can be difficult to access even for those with a regular income.
The apartment will provide six months of additional housing support after residents leave the SAI system. During this period, Caritas staff will help them consolidate their employment, strengthen their social networks and achieve financial independence, with the ultimate goal of securing a rental contract in their own name.
“Without a home, independence is impossible,” said Marco Seracini, president of Fondazione Solidarietà Caritas ETS. “The right to housing is not simply about having a roof over your head, but is essential for social inclusion, health, work, education and personal dignity.”
He noted that the organization increasingly encounters people who, despite having jobs or established social networks, cannot afford housing. “A home, which should be a place of security, stability and the opportunity to plan for the future, risks becoming a privilege accessible to only a few,” he added, thanking the parish and local community for turning the principle of welcome into practical support.
