Housing activists protest private student residences and investment funds in Italy

Activists and community organizations are raising alarms regarding the impact of private investment funds on urban housing and community spaces in Italy. In Bologna, the Adl Cobas group has launched an investigation titled “Di chi è la città” (Whose city is it?) following the opening of Aparto, a new private student residence with 546 beds. While marketed as a solution to the housing crisis, critics note that single rooms cost approximately 924 euros per month, and only about 5% of the spaces are subsidized for public use.

The investigation highlights the involvement of major financial players, noting that the platform is managed by the international real estate giant Hines, while the property is owned by Investire SGR. Activists argue these developments prioritize profit over solving the housing shortage, potentially making cities less accessible to anyone but wealthy students and tourists.

This movement draws parallels to the long-standing struggle at Spin Time in Rome. Since 2013, the occupation of the former Inpdap building in the Esquilino district has served as a hub for community services, including social desks, workshops, and shared housing. Protesters are mobilizing to defend the right to inhabit urban spaces and maintain community-driven welfare models against market-driven real estate pressures.