Pisa, 2 July 2024 – The Cgil of Pisa has launched a new questionnaire for residents and non-residents to address the issue of protecting the right to housing. Silvia Vezzosisecretary of the Cgil Pisa, presented the initiative by underlining the importance of the right to housing as a fundamental right established by the Constitution, on a par with the right to work. “As Cgil – declared Vezzosi -, we have always placed the fight against poverty at the top of our trade union action. We believe that the fight against inequalities also involves the promotion of social justice and a fundamental aspect of this is guaranteeing the right to housing. A right that is mistreated and forgotten, but also outraged, both at the city political level and at the national level”. The provincial secretary of the Sunia of Pisa, Sandro Ibragugliofurther illustrated the purposes of the questionnaire, describing the complexity of the housing situation in Pisa, accentuated by the pandemic. “The city of Pisa, post Covid – explained Imbraguglio -, is experiencing a strong structural change, especially in its housing fabric. Before the pandemic, we saw the depopulation of the city due to the out-of-control rental market linked to the Pisan university system. Today, this market has been replaced, with dramatic consequences for families and students, by the short-term rental market. This out-of-control phenomenon does not only concern the center, but also peripheral neighborhoods such as San Giusto, Porta a Mare, Pisanova, taking large numbers of housing from the private rental market and exponentially increasing the rent of those few homes still available”. Imbraguglio also highlighted the difficulty for young couples to buy a house: “Buying a house is impossible for young couples, both due to the difficulty of finding available housing and the difficulty of obtaining and paying a mortgage” explained the trade unionist. Manuela Micieli of Federconsumatori Pisa finally addressed the issue of additional expenses related to the management of the apartment, which have registered uncontrolled increases. “In the month of May, inflation stood at +0.8% on an annual basis – Micieli declared -. The repercussions for an average family amount to +252 euros per year, burdens that will further affect the purchasing power of families, especially those with low incomes, affecting their consumer choices”.
