Overview of the Investigation
Altreconomia, an independent Italian economic news outlet, published an investigative report authored by Alessandro Ferrari on the worsening housing emergency for migrants in Verona. The article draws on municipal data, social‑service statistics and interviews with local actors such as the cooperative “La casa per gli immigrati”, the Community Center Verona, and representatives of the public housing agency Agec.
Scale of the Housing Need
The city’s Territorial Planning Plan (Pat) estimates that 1 697 households currently require housing. Projections for the next decade anticipate a further demand of 3 862 homes, bringing the total required stock to 5 559 units by 2033. These figures underline a systemic shortage that disproportionately affects migrant workers.
Current Market Constraints
Verona’s rental market has contracted sharply: listings on Immobiliare.it fell from an average of 777 units per quarter (2015‑2023) to 266, while average rent rose 54 % from €7.6 to €11.7 per square metre. Registered long‑term leases (over three years) dropped from 4 070 to 1 762 between 2019 and 2023, and overall rental contracts declined from 10 968 to 9 365. The scarcity is amplified by the conversion of residential units into short‑term tourist rentals, with an average of 3 421 Airbnb‑type listings per month recorded between August 2023 and July 2024.
Impact on Migrant Populations
In 2024 the Community Center Verona assisted 347 individuals (93 % non‑Italian), of whom 110 were forced to live on the streets, 61 in emergency dormitories, 37 with acquaintances, and 33 in unregistered (“in nero”) rentals—none held formal tenancy contracts. Personal testimonies, such as those of Ousman (a Gambian warehouse worker) and coordinator Jacopo Rui, illustrate how housing precarity undermines employment stability, access to residency permits and participation in integration programmes.
Public Housing Provider Agec
Agec manages 4 068 municipal social‑housing units, with 60 % offered at subsidised rates. Approximately 550 units are currently vacant due to disrepair; the agency can only refurbish and release about 250 units annually. Applications for public housing rose from 889 (2019) to 1 596 (2023), and foreigners now represent roughly half of the waiting list, indicating a shift in the socio‑economic profile of applicants.
Third‑Sector and Municipal Responses
Seventeen NGOs participate in the “Tavolo per l’abitare”, a municipal forum established in summer 2024 to coordinate housing solutions. In December 2024 Agec approved 47 new allocations, including five for the cooperative “La casa per gli immigrati”, which will renovate apartments to accommodate twenty migrant workers. The new regulation (article 7 amendment) permits agreements between Agec and NGOs for the management and low‑rent leasing of refurbished municipal units.
Broader Socio‑Economic Context
Verona enjoys a high employment rate (71.9 % of working‑age residents) and low unemployment (3.1 %). Yet the city struggles to provide affordable housing for the influx of workers, including a significant number of non‑EU migrants. The rise in evictions (2 012 in 2022) and the reluctance of private landlords to rent to vulnerable groups exacerbate the crisis.
Relevance for Sustainable Housing
The Verona case illustrates how unaffordable rents, conversion to short‑term tourism accommodation and aging public‑housing stock can undermine social sustainability. Data‑driven interventions—such as expanding affordable stock, preserving existing units, and fostering public‑private‑non‑profit partnerships—are highlighted as essential steps toward a more inclusive and sustainable urban housing system.