Rome activists occupy public housing to protest Ater property auctions

Activists in Rome have occupied a public housing apartment in the Esquilino district to protest the planned auction of 30 residential properties managed by Ater, an agency of the Lazio Region.

The protesters scheduled a viewing of the property and occupied it upon entry, demanding that public housing be allocated to those in need rather than sold to generate revenue. The group is calling for an immediate halt to the auctions, which were ordered on August 7, 2026.

Critics of the sale argue that divesting public assets fails to address the city's housing emergency, noting that over 16,000 families are currently waiting for public housing assignments. While authorities may view the sale as a strategy to manage and value public assets, activists maintain that selling these homes reduces the available supply for a population facing rising rents and high demand.