Politiche abitative, al via il tavolo in Comune. Salis: "Stiamo accelerando per riqualificare 600 alloggi" (Genova24)

The article, published by Genova24.it, reports on the inaugural meeting of Genoa’s permanent municipal housing‑policy table, convened in the Salone di Rappresentanza of Palazzo Tursi. The initiative brings together the mayor, Silvia Salis, the assessors for Housing Policies, Welfare and Urban Planning, and a broad coalition of public institutions, trade unions, professional orders, universities and civil‑society organisations. Its purpose is to shift the city’s approach from emergency relief to a strategic, long‑term housing system.

During the first year of the current administration (June 2025–May 2026), 173 public‑social housing units (ERP) were allocated, yet demand remains far higher. The new programme aims to deliver almost 600 public residential units across 35 buildings, backed by an investment of nearly €36 million, largely leveraging PNRR resources. This represents a significant scaling‑up of Genoa’s housing stock, targeting both vulnerable households and young residents.

The mayor highlighted acute shortages for university students and young workers, noting that many spend over 40 % of their income on rent. The table will develop projects that refurbish existing buildings and foster public‑private partnerships to create affordable homes, including dedicated spaces for students and co‑living arrangements.

Data cited in the article show a median rental price of €10.46 per square metre, rising by 8 % annually. Short‑term rentals amount to roughly 3 500 units, further tightening the supply for permanent residents. These trends exacerbate housing insecurity for low‑income families, single‑parent households and the elderly.

The permanent table will operate through five inter‑departmental strands:

1. Public Residential Housing (ERP) – targeting “zero vacancy” through needs mapping, fund mobilisation, legislative revision and community activation.
2. Social and Accessible Housing – supporting the “grey” population, expanding social‑housing contracts, and promoting ethical real‑estate funds and service‑housing models.
3. Private Housing and Urban Planning – mapping private vacancy, addressing hydro‑geological risks, regulating short‑term lets, and incentivising sustainable, climate‑resilient redevelopment of historic centres.
4. Socio‑Housing Inclusion – delivering Housing First, active‑ageing solutions, support for people with disabilities, protected pathways for victims of violence, foreign unaccompanied minors and those exiting reception systems.
5. Innovation and New Living Models – fostering co‑housing, co‑living and collaborative housing experiments to respond to demographic and economic shifts.

The table is designed as a co‑production “cabina di regia”, not merely advisory, ensuring coordinated decision‑making across the five strands. It will draw on the newly created municipal Housing Observatory, supported by research firm Ire, to provide data‑driven insight for policy formulation.

A central aim is to repurpose Genoa’s extensive under‑used building stock, much of which dates from a time when the city housed one million inhabitants—today the population is roughly half that size. By converting vacant structures into modern, energy‑efficient homes, the city seeks to reduce urban sprawl, lower carbon emissions and enhance social cohesion.

The initiative aligns with broader European housing strategies, anticipating the next National Housing Plan and the EU programming cycle 2028‑2034. Genoa’s approach illustrates how municipal authorities can combine European funding, local data, and multi‑sector partnerships to address the housing crisis while promoting sustainability and inclusivity.