Context and Origin of the Work
The document is an academic paper titled “Abitare Sociale a Verona: dall’emergenza abitativa al welfare abitativo” authored by Michele Breveglieri and published by the Università degli Studi di Bologna in 2025. It stems from a Master’s project in Governance and Innovation of Local Welfare (II‑level) at the same university. The author, a former municipal employee of Verona’s Social Services Directorate, combines professional experience with scholarly analysis to examine the city’s housing‑welfare system.
Institutional Landscape in Verona
Verona’s public housing is administered by two entities: AGEC (the municipal housing company) and ATER (the regional housing agency). AGEC manages both ERP‑bound stock and a “free” portfolio governed by the Regolamento emergenze abitative, last amended in 2024. The regulation creates a “banca dati emergenza abitativa” through which AGEC allocates low‑rent units based on mixed objective and subjective criteria. Funding for emergency housing includes the €1.8 million Fondo Morosità Incolpevole, which expired in 2025.
Key Housing Trends and Pressures
Between July 2022 and May 2025, average rental prices rose from €10.45/m² to €12.22/m². Concurrently, the city faced increasing difficulty attracting and retaining workers due to unaffordable housing. Notable events shaping policy include student protests (2023‑2025) against high rents, the occupation and subsequent eviction of the “Ghibellin Fuggiasco” social centre, and a surge in evictions as the emergency‑housing fund dwindled.
Policy Window and Governance Gaps
The analysis identifies a classic “policy window” (Kingdon’s model) where rising rents, political change (centre‑left administration since July 2022), and media attention converged. Despite this, governance remains fragmented: the Social Services Directorate operates in silos, data on housing needs are dispersed across Excel, Access and proprietary systems, and there is no unified territorial analysis of demand. The lack of a regional housing law further limits strategic coordination.
Proposed Institutional Reforms
Breveglieri outlines five strategic objectives: redefining the housing problem as a structural crisis, linking welfare and urban planning, creating a shared conceptual map of social housing, adopting evidence‑based data collection, and establishing co‑governance mechanisms. Specific proposals include: a “Piano per l’Abitare Sociale” by end‑2026, a permanent inter‑ministerial governance table including AGEC, ATER, NGOs and the private sector, and the transformation of the ad‑hoc “Agenzia Sociale per l’Abitare” into a legally recognised entity by 2027.
Operational Recommendations
Key operational steps involve: (1) a rapid joint working group with the Territorial Planning Directorate to harmonise terminology (e.g., defining “ERS”); (2) re‑classifying affordable housing stock as a public service rather than purely residential; (3) establishing a dedicated fund for social housing sourced from private‑sector contributions; (4) extending the “banca dati emergenza abitativa” to include private‑sector offers; and (5) integrating the internal AISA desk into the new agency to streamline case handling.
Implications for Sustainable Housing
The paper stresses that sustainable housing requires not only physical affordability but also social integration, co‑housing models, and long‑term governance stability. By aligning housing policy with broader welfare objectives and urban planning, Verona can reduce carbon footprints associated with frequent relocations, improve social cohesion, and create resilient neighbourhoods. The suggested five‑pillar framework (social residential services, public housing, affordable rental stock, collaborative living, and proximity‑care interventions) offers a replicable model for other European cities confronting similar housing‑welfare challenges.
Key Data Highlights
- Rental price increase: +17 % (2022‑2025)
- Emergency‑housing fund: €1.8 million (non‑renewed)
- ERP‑bound stock managed jointly by AGEC/ATER; “free” stock governed by 2024 regulation amendment
- Proposed budget for the new agency (2026‑2027): ≈ €4.5 million (based on university project funding)
- Target: at least 5 % increase in socially‑priced units by 2026 These facts provide a factual basis for pan‑European stakeholders interested in integrating sustainable housing policies with local welfare systems.