Housing Policies: The Challenge of Residence in European Cities

The current context of housing policies

At a time when European cities are facing unprecedented challenges related to the housing emergency, the words of Roberto Gualtieri, Mayor of Rome, ring like an alarm bell. During the conference 'Cities between beauty and mass tourism: sustainable regulation', Gualtieri highlighted that public housing policies cannot limit themselves to reducing tourism, but must aim to create more social housing and promote social housing.

Urban regeneration therefore becomes a central theme, requiring coordinated intervention between the government and European institutions.

An ambitious plan for Europe

Gualtieri recently attended the presentation in Brussels of an ambitious plan aimed at putting the recovery of housing policies at the center of the European agenda. This plan aims to support the most vulnerable segments of the population, including the intermediate ones who risk being expelled from the cities due to the increase in rent costs. The proposal includes measures such as the limitation of rents and an increase in subsidized housing, to guarantee housing at controlled prices for students, the elderly and other categories in difficulty.

Regulation of short-term rentals

Another crucial point raised by Gualtieri concerns the regulation of short-term rentals. Although this measure is essential to address the housing emergency, the mayor warns that it cannot be considered the only solution. For too long, public housing policies have been neglected in Italy, and now a change of direction is needed. The challenge is complex and requires an integrated approach that goes beyond simple regulation, aiming at a broader and more sustainable vision for the future of European cities.