POTENZA – The councilors for social policies and urban planning of the Municipality of Potenza, accompanied by representatives of the Human Services Management Unit, carried out an inspection on the construction site in via Fabio Filzi (Santa Croce district), to verify the state of progress of the works on the property owned by the Administration, intended for the implementation of the ‘Housing First’ project, drawing on the PO Fesr Basilicata 2014 – 2020 funds.
“An important project that comes to life and takes shape in the Lucanian capital, to guarantee a welcome path for people who do not have stable housing conditions, in a city context characterized by the growth of poverty and marginality generated by the emergence of the so-called new poor such as unemployed, retired, divorced” was explained.
The measure, in more detail, involves the construction, in the former university residences in Via Fabio Filzi, of 10 small-sized apartments to be used as short- or medium-term temporary residences. The internal space will also consist of a laboratory area and spaces open to the public, to be dedicated to a social gateway and a literary café, and the external one to be a public courtyard with a play area. The internal and external architecture defines a context that enhances horizontality and full accessibility: removal of architectural barriers, multipurpose environments with diaphragmatic, modular and transparent separation to accommodate guests with different needs; fluid and dynamic urban furniture accessible to all, organic shapes that welcome to encourage meeting and sociality; ‘open air’ context, with games and multifunctional seats equipped with recesses intended for wheelchairs.
The inspection made it possible to confirm that the project, as conceived, represents a highly innovative intervention with strong social significance which will be the heritage of the entire regional territory. The peculiarity of this innovative model, aimed at people and families in conditions of high social marginality, lies in the fact that for the first time it involves a municipal property, which for this purpose has been subject to renovation, building and plant adaptation, as well as furnishings.
“The ‘home’, therefore – it was specified – as a right. The ‘home’ as a real starting point from which the ‘homeless’ person must start again to restart a path of social inclusion”.
The works are progressing and their completion is expected by the end of the summer; “It will thus be possible to deliver a unique service of its kind to the territory, ensuring 10-15 people with absolute impossibility of accessing a home, a complete, structured and continuous temporary residential service, inspired by the principles of the ‘Housing First’ approach ‘.
In the same context, the ‘Social Emergency Response’ service was launched, concerning emergency situations, with functions of first point of contact, case evaluation and technical support, activation of the network of emergency services, drafting of the help project, as well as the registered residence and poste restante service.
Since 2020, 4 social doors have been activated in various neighborhoods of the city of Potenza, managed by third sector entities, as information desks that allow citizens to have complete information on rights, benefits, methods of using social services, as well as access more easily and in an assisted manner to the integrated network of interventions and social services.
