Rome Housing Crisis: Family with Three Children, One with Disabilities, Forced to Sleep in Car After Eviction
Rome, February 7, 2026 – A family of five, comprised of parents Danilo and Francesca and their three minor children, one of whom has a disability, is now forced to sleep in their car. This alarming situation, described as “unprecedented in its gravity” by Silvia Paoluzzi of Unione Inquilini, highlights the escalating housing emergency in the Italian capital.
The family was initially evicted on January 8th and had since relied on temporary accommodation. “As of tonight, the family of Danilo and Francesca, consisting of a mother, father, and three minors, one of whom has a disability, will be forced to sleep in their car,” stated Paoluzzi, emphasizing the critical nature of the situation.
No Alternatives for the Evicted Family
According to the housing union, following the eviction, the family had access to funds from Delibera 154, the integrated Capitoline plan for activities and organization for the 2023-2025 biennium. These funds, disbursed by the X Municipality, covered the cost of a bed and breakfast, providing immediate, albeit temporary, shelter.
However, this temporary solution has now expired. “Today, those funds are exhausted, and they are left with just 50 euros in their pocket. No alternative or protection,” the union reported, underscoring the family’s desperate circumstances.
Unione Inquilini believes that the situation could have been mitigated if the 2026 funds from the same Delibera 154 had been activated earlier. “Resources that would have guaranteed at least a few more days of accommodation and a minimum of continuity,” the organization stressed. While acknowledging the city’s efforts, the union reiterated the need for greater timeliness in administrative processes.
Wider Housing Emergency in Rome
This case is part of a broader crisis affecting Rome and the entire country. “In Rome, ten families are evicted every day, often with minors,” Unione Inquilini noted, adding that these evictions frequently occur “without any transition from home to home.” This structural housing emergency is exacerbated by a saturated real estate market and an insufficient number of public housing units to meet demand.
Tools and Ongoing Dialogue
The family might be eligible for benefits under Delibera 185, a municipal initiative designed to prevent evictions. However, union representatives observe that this instrument still faces “evident limitations in a context where finding a rental contract is complex even for those with financial support.” The Capitoline Department of Housing Policies is currently evaluating the possibility of an exceptional assignment of an Erp (public residential building) dwelling, considering the family’s vulnerability and ongoing discussions at the municipal level.
Campidoglio’s Plan for Public Housing
On the front of structural policies, the Campidoglio (Rome’s city council) claims a change of pace. With the acquisition of 1,040 apartments from the Enasarco Foundation, Roma Capitale has initiated what it describes as the largest public residential building operation in recent decades. “This is a historic decision,” stated Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, who spoke of “an investment of approximately 250 million euros to provide concrete answers to the housing emergency.” These units, 236 of which have already been acquired, will be allocated to households with middle-to-low incomes and other priority categories.
Tobia Zevi, the Councillor for Housing Policies, highlighted that this operation marks a reversal of previous trends. “In the coming months, the allocation of already acquired housing will begin, and by 2026, we expect to complete the entire operation.” This intervention aims to strengthen public assets and progressively alleviate the pressure of the housing crisis.
Despite acknowledging the importance of these structural investments, Unione Inquilini reiterates the need for immediate responses for the most vulnerable cases. “No family should sleep in a car,” is their final appeal, urging a combination of long-term planning and urgent protection of the right to housing.
Source: https://www.lacapitale.it/articolo/emergenza-abitativa-a-roma-paoluzzi-di-unione-inquilini-una-famiglia-con-tre-minori-di-cui-uno-con-disabilit%C3%A0-da-stanotte-in-macchina-dopo-lo-sfratto
