Innovation: Group homes

Italy

AAI Domains:

• Independent, healthy and secure living (independent living, financial security, care giving to children, care giving to older adults)

• Participation in society (social connectedness)

The financial crisis of 2008, the resulting economic crisis and the different programmes of austerity that have been undertaken across Europe have had a huge impact on society in many ways. One of the most obvious areas to have been affected is the housing market that has seen widespread disruption with some communities and countries experiencing high levels of repossessions, evictions and empty homes.

This housing crisis has had significant effects on individuals, families, neighbourhoods and communities across Europe that are likely to be profoundly negative in both the short and longer term. However, out of this crisis a number of socially innovative solutions have been developed in turn that can be characterised as ‘group homes’ that seek to meet the housing needs of socially excluded and marginalised people.

Turin is one of Europe’s great cities with a population of more than 800,000 within the boundaries of the city municipality and over two million people living in the greater metropolitan area but it has experienced economic and social challenges in the current economic climate. Being homeless or living in very insecure accommodation is harmful to health and well-being and so reduces people’s capacity to actively age.

A variety of forms of group homes, all characterised by a mixture of private and shared living spaces, have developed in more than a dozen locations across Turin as a response to people’s needs and the prevailing economic conditions. There are various forms of group homes with solidarity condos being restructured buildings for multiple families and socially marginalised groups, such as former prisoners or recovering addicts, that provide a range of living spaces at affordable rents.

Temporary housing has been developed for people different housing needs, such as temporary workers or non-resident students or people who are experiencing a period of stress such as a separation or an eviction. They include shared services, communal spaces and function as a real home on a temporary basis that can last up to a year.

The Social Sharing Hotel in the building that was the Post Office in the Falchera district was established in 2001 as a joint venture between the City of Turin, the DOC cooperative with funding from the CRT Foundation and Oltre Venture, a social investment fund for such social ventures. This €14 million re-development offers temporary housing and hospitality with accessible social, health, mobility and employment services and won a regional innovation award in 2013.

There are also co-housing sites that consist of a mixture of private and communal living space and include additional services such as micro-nurseries, time banks, group buying and car sharing to enable individuals and families to live well together and better than they could apart. These various forms of groups homes are a mixture of public, private and social sector working with people to develop innovative solutions to their housing needs in the context of a prolonged period of economic and social disruption.

In relation to active ageing, the provision of adequate housing is a major influence on the health and well-being for people of all ages. Children, adults and older people are all residents of these innovative group homes that provide what can be considered to be traditional rural solutions adapted for an urban environment.

This form of communal living in a group home has potentially positive influences on a number of active ageing index domains including independent living, a degree of financial security (as these solutions are invariably for people who cannot find adequate housing through the market or social/public systems) and often involve greater social connectedness based on mutual aid that involves care giving to children and older people.

Secondo Welfare article