War between poor people for housing in Giugliano in Campania, the large center north of Naples. On Tuesday evening some homeless families occupied a house confiscated from the Camorra intended to accommodate 6 Roma families, coming from the enormous and unworthy irregular camp in the Carrafiello area where around 500 people live, 60% minors, a “non-place” where they are finished 5 years ago, after the seventh eviction.
Here on January 13th little Michelle, 6 years old, who had a shack for her “home” like hundreds of other children, died of electrocution, touching a flying electric wire. However, twenty of them, together with 18 adults, will soon have a home in the confiscated property, in via Palmentiello, renovated thanks to a project that brings together institutions, volunteers and the Church. But other “homeless” people anticipated them and on Tuesday illegally occupied the building. In Giugliano, 125 thousand inhabitants, the third largest city in Campania by population without being the provincial capital, the housing problem is dramatic. There were many occupations, including public housing, and many interventions by the police to clear them out. And from one eviction we move on to another occupation of empty houses. But in this case already destined for other marginalized families.
Evidently they had read about the imminent arrival of the Roma, after the restoration of the house. And they took advantage of the bureaucratic delays that are still blocking the delivery of the six apartments. Yesterday morning the Police, Carabinieri and local police intervened, coordinated by the prefect of Naples, Michele di Bari, and the mayor of Giugliano, Nicola Pirozzi, clearing the property. What also convinced the four Italian families was the mayor’s promise of help in finding a house, without resorting to other occupations. They have thus been taken into care by the social services of the Municipality who will evaluate the necessary financial aid, especially with regards to accommodation and rent.
Now, however, they want to speed up the arrival of Roma families. Three years ago, on 12 January 2021, the Campania regional council approved the “Abramo” project for a path of housing, work and social integration of the Roma populations of Giugliano (there is not only the Carrafiello camp). Among the project partners is also the parish of San Pio X, led by Don Francesco Riccio, who is also responsible for the social communications office of the Diocese of Aversa. The parish priest himself, thanks to the project funds, has already purchased the furniture for the six apartments, where the families will be looked after by two operators, also in charge of the project. But to enter there are some bureaucratic requirements.
Firstly, the transfer of ownership from the metropolitan city of Naples to the municipality of Giuliano. Only in this way will families be able to sign rental contracts (for now free of charge) and utilities, which will instead be their responsibility. But the process is taking a long time. Now they ensure acceleration. A first step. The other Roma remain in the camp where, fortunately, water has been connected and waste is collected. Meanwhile, again thanks to the project, over one hundred children from the camp attend school and Don Francesco is also working on the employment front, with the establishment of a cooperative that deals with separate waste collection.
