Authorities in Rome had initially planned to provide four large tents equipped with around 250 camp beds for the homeless during the winter season. However, only two of the tents were ready on the eve of the Jubilee, causing delays in providing shelter for the homeless population. The two tents that were ready are located near Termini station and Ostiense station, and were intended to accommodate up to 70 people daily. Despite the delays, the Mayor of Rome assured that all four tents will eventually be built and ready for the start of the Jubilee in 2025.
The plan to set up these shelter tents only provides a small fraction of the total homeless population in Rome with accommodation. During the “Night of Solidarity” initiative in April 2024, 2,204 homeless people were counted in Rome, with the majority being men between the ages of 40 and 49. The homeless population in Rome primarily consists of Italian, Romanian, Somali, and Moroccan individuals. There are plans to expand the reception capabilities in Rome by adding 250 spaces for second-stage accommodation by 2026, in addition to other future projects.
Data collected by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) at the end of 2022 indicates that the issue of homelessness is more significant than previously reported. The report revealed that there were 23,420 homeless people in the Rome metropolitan area, with 22,162 in Rome alone, making it the municipality with the highest percentage of homelessness in Italy. The Caritas Poverty Report 2024 also highlighted how absolute poverty in Italy has reached a new peak, affecting 5.7 million people or nearly 10% of the population.
The European Parliament has stressed the importance of access to decent housing as a fundamental human right, calling on EU Member States to “end homelessness by 2030.” The resolution proposed creating an EU framework of national strategies to address homelessness, including increasing funding at the state level. The situation in Rome reflects a larger issue of homelessness and poverty across Italy, highlighting the need for comprehensive and sustainable solutions to support vulnerable populations.
In response to the growing crisis, the City Council of Rome allocated €4.3 million for the construction of the four large tents to provide shelter for the homeless during the winter season. The delays and challenges in completing the project underscore the broader issue of homelessness and poverty in Italy, with efforts being made to expand housing and assistance programs for those in need. The data collected by various institutions and reports indicate a pressing need for proactive measures to address homelessness and provide support to vulnerable populations across the country.
