DAR=CASA Società Cooperativa is a non-profit housing cooperative established in Milan in the early 1990s to address the acute housing needs of foreign workers excluded from both the public and private rental markets. The organisation was legally founded in 1991 by a group with backgrounds in politics, trade unions, urban planning, and architecture. Its founding president was Piero Basso, a figure known for his commitment to civil and social rights.
Originally, the cooperative focused on renting private-market apartments in towns like Vailate and central Milan to its members. By 1997, DAR=CASA expanded through agreements with public agencies such as ALER and the Municipality of Milan, repurposing long-vacant, deteriorated public housing units. The cooperative invested in renovating these properties, which were then leased to members meeting social or moderate rent criteria. This approach increased the housing stock at low cost while reducing the waste of public assets.
DAR=CASA exclusively offers rental tenure and operates as an "indivisa" cooperative, meaning properties cannot be sold, only rented. The cooperative currently manages several hundred units in Milan and its province, though precise numbers fluctuate due to ongoing projects.
Current flagship initiatives include Ospitalità Solidale. Started in 2014, this project provides young adults (ages 18–30) in temporary work or study with affordable apartments in under-resourced neighborhoods. In return, tenants contribute to local social activities, supporting integration and revitalization. Another example is Foyer di Cenni, a co-housing scheme with 27 beds for students and young workers, blending affordable rents with shared community management.
DAR=CASA's work is grounded in providing stable, affordable housing as a means to foster community and combat social exclusion, particularly among groups typically marginalized by Milan's housing market.