On September 19, a fire broke out in the occupied building at via Fracastoro 8, where around seventy immigrant workers with short-term, low-income contracts lived. After the fire, the family units were transferred to a municipal facility in viale Ortles, while the single adults without families were supposed to be housed at the Sammartini 120 Center, where only those with specific vulnerabilities could receive assistance.
To temporarily address the problem, the civil protection service proposed using the gym in via Cambini for the night, where 38 people found shelter. By morning, around twenty people remained: the absentees had already gone to work during the night. It is precisely the night work schedule that is problematic: for those who work at night, such as warehouse workers or riders, staying in a dormitory would not be compatible with their work schedule. For example, in via Ortles, the 6 a.m. wake-up and the 1 a.m. curfew would prevent them from carrying out their activities.
The displaced people, along with some activists from the Ci Siamo Solidarity Network, set up tents in Piazza Leonardo Da Vinci, now a symbol of protests on the issue of housing. Since then, almost weekly, new solutions have been promised by the authorities, but none have materialized yet.
Before being moved to and occupying the "ex Scarioni swimming pool", there were 21 tents and 28 people sleeping there, where living conditions were difficult, hygiene was poor, and, with mud and humidity, health problems became more frequent. With the occupation of the swimming pool, the residents let out a temporary sigh of relief, many glad to finally be able to take a shower without having to go all the way to the Tricolore area to use the public showers, or feeling reassured by the milder temperatures of recent days.
The municipality continues to show willingness to meet with the Ci Siamo group, but has provided very few solutions. Once again, there is hope for a more concrete response by next week.
