Rome

1. Famous Underground Structures: Beneath the bustling streets of Rome lies a network of ancient underground structures, such as the Catacombs of Rome. These catacombs are ancient burial sites that date back to the 2nd century AD and provide insight into early Christian practices, showcasing intricate frescoes and tombs. 2. A City of Seven Hills: While many people know Rome as the Eternal City, fewer realize that it is built on seven hills: Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal. Each hill has its own unique history and significance, and the distinct landscapes offer stunning views of the city. 3. The Origin of the Word "Apartment": The word "apartment" has its roots in the Latin word "apartare," meaning "to separate." In ancient Rome, the wealthy lived in grand domus (houses), while the common people resided in insulae, which were essentially ancient apartment buildings. These multi-story structures housed several families and were an early form of urban living.

Rome's housing market is characterized by a strong demand for both buying and renting properties. About 22% of residential properties are rented long-term, while the majority are owned. The median rent per square meter is approximately €132 annually, and the median purchase price is around €3,590 per square meter in mid-2025. Publicly owned housing plays a limited role, making up less than 5% of the total housing stock in Rome. Public housing and social housing are not exactly the same, though they often overlap. Public housing refers to properties owned by the government, while social housing is specifically designed for low-income families and often involves cooperative models. Social housing initiatives in Rome focus on affordability and sustainability, with projects like converting abandoned sites into social housing units. However, these initiatives are still small-scale compared to the overall housing needs of the city. The rental market is dynamic, with a significant shift towards short-term rentals due to tourist demand. This has led to a decrease in long-term rental availability, making ownership more attractive for long-term residents. Despite challenges, the city is promoting cooperative housing models and urban regeneration projects to address affordable housing needs.

Rome's housing crisis is marked by high demand and limited supply, particularly in affordable housing. The city has over 18,000 families waiting for public housing, with about 20,000 people homeless and 10,000 households facing eviction threats. The majority of evictions stem from inability to pay rent, often due to job loss. Rental prices are rising, with a median annual rent of approximately €132 per square meter, and there are only about 3,283 long-term rental listings available in the greater Rome area. The crisis disproportionately affects low- and middle-income earners, precarious workers, students, and marginalized groups like the Roma community. These groups face systemic barriers, including discrimination and lack of access to public housing options. The shift towards short-term tourist rentals further restricts the availability of long-term rentals, exacerbating the crisis. Despite a majority of residents owning their homes, those seeking affordable housing options are increasingly squeezed out by rising costs and limited supply.

Rome’s city administration addresses affordable and sustainable housing mainly through programs and funding set by national and municipal frameworks. A central pillar is participation in Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), with the “National Innovative Programme for the Quality of Living” (PINQuA), which has a national budget of about €3 billion. This initiative focuses on urban regeneration, increasing the energy efficiency of public housing, renovating residential buildings, and enhancing overall living standards. Rome participates through PINQuA-funded projects that prioritize urban renewal and energy retrofitting, aiming to mitigate urban decay and support social inclusion. Recent targets communicated for the housing sector revolve around modernizing social housing units, improving the energy performance of public housing, and increasing the stock available for vulnerable groups. The city is also involved in the “Safe, green and social: redevelopment of public housing” program, which seeks to combine housing security, sustainability, and social services. Additional concrete actions include the “Housing First” program, which provides immediate housing—without preconditions—for homeless and highly marginalized populations, and the “Decreto Salva-Casa,” which permits the legalization of previously excluded residential units, expanding housing availability while protecting green areas. On the financial side, tax incentives such as the Ecobonus and Sismabonus offer deductions for energy upgrades and seismic retrofitting, further encouraging the sustainable modernization of Rome’s private and public housing stock. Support measures like rental subsidies for tenants in difficulty also remain active.

Le cooperative abitative a Roma rappresentano una risposta in crescita, ma ancora marginale, all’attuale crisi abitativa della città. Attualmente, la quota di abitazioni cooperative è stimata largamente inferiore al 5% del totale delle unità abitative romane, ben al di sotto di quanto si registra nelle città del nord Italia. Storicamente poco rilevanti, le cooperative stanno però acquisendo visibilità grazie a nuove politiche e a forme di partenariato pubblico-privato, spesso indirizzate a famiglie a basso reddito, giovani e anziani. Negli ultimi anni si è assistito a un rinnovato interesse istituzionale per il modello cooperativo, considerato una via promettente ma ancora di nicchia: esempi sono i programmi di autorecupero (riqualificazione di immobili pubblici abbandonati tramite cooperative di residenti), resi possibili dalla legge regionale del Lazio del 1998 e supportati da accordi municipali. Inoltre, a maggio 2025, Legacoop Abitanti ha presentato a Roma un piano decennale per 20.000 nuove abitazioni a canone sostenibile tramite piattaforme di finanziamento pubblico e privato, in linea con gli orientamenti strategici UE. Il Comune di Roma promuove la cooperazione abitativa agevolando autorecuperi, incentivando la mixité sociale nei nuovi insediamenti e partecipando a programmi di rigenerazione urbana. Tuttavia, l’impatto reale dell’offerta cooperativa resta ancora limitato rispetto alle esigenze crescenti di abitazioni accessibili in città.