Fondazione Housing Sociale (FHS), based in Milan, was established in 2004 by Fondazione Cariplo with support from regional and municipal institutions. Its purpose has always been focused on **developing and supporting social housing** for individuals and families excluded from the local property market due to income constraints. Unlike organizations that own or manage properties, FHS acts primarily as a technical and social advisor, shaping project models, financial structures, and community engagement strategies in social housing.
The organization first gained recognition for helping launch Fondo Abitare Sociale 1, Italy’s first ethical fund designed specifically for social housing, which began in 2005. This fund was a significant innovation in Italian real estate and welfare policy, targeting students, elderly people, migrants, and other groups unable to access market-rate housing. The fund’s policies forbade investments in projects related to arms, tobacco, and alcohol.
FHS’s portfolio includes technical support, educational programs—such as a master’s in Social and Collaborative Housing with Politecnico di Milano—and community welfare initiatives. The organization has contributed to the national expansion of social housing funds, notably through the Fondo Investimenti per l’Abitare.
Recent projects include the L’Innesto development at Scalo Greco Breda, Milan’s first net-zero carbon social housing initiative, which is set to deliver hundreds of affordable units and student accommodation alongside extensive public green areas. FHS also provides guidance in major urban projects, such as the residential component of the Olympic Village in Porta Romana, which will offer 320 affordable units for over 2,500 residents.