Italy launches 10 billion euro housing plan amid rental crisis

The Italian government, led by the center-right coalition, has launched the ‘Piano Casa’ (Housing Plan), an initiative involving over 10 billion euros aimed at making housing a national priority. The policy focuses on providing solutions for families, young people, and lower-income groups struggling to access the market.

In Sicily, regional authorities are planning an initial 258 million euro intervention using national, regional, and European resources. The strategy emphasizes urban and social regeneration by prioritizing the recovery of existing buildings—such as historic centers, peripheral areas, and unused heritage—over new construction. Key tools include social housing, reducing bureaucracy, and simplifying urban planning procedures to combat depopulation in small towns and rural areas.

Concurrently, the housing crisis remains a point of political contention. MEP Ilaria Salis of Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra has criticized the high cost of rentals, specifically highlighting extreme rental prices in Milan. While the government aims to return 60,000 public houses to the market by spring 2027, critics argue for stricter regulation of the rental market to prevent exploitation and address the lack of affordable student and social housing.