Homeless students – but by choice

A few weeks ago, the spokesperson for the University Students’ Union – a trade union affiliated to the CGIL – camped out on the lawn of the Biblioteca degli Alberi in Milan (a private property made available to the public, bear that in mind), protesting against the cost of ‘single rooms’ for university students in the private sector and even more so in halls of residence: ‘This is a business, not a service designed to guarantee everyone’s right to study’. Her colleague, the national coordinator, who was camped out in Rome, aimed higher: “The NRRP has been handed over to private interests; the university system is on the brink of collapse… Minister Bernini believes she has resolved the housing crisis, when in fact she has squandered 1.2 billion from the NRRP on private rooms that can cost a thousand euros a month”. It may therefore be worth reflecting on a small but telling statistic from Emilia-Romagna, where there is also a shortage of accommodation for students from outside the region. However, a report presented to the Regional Council reveals a parallel surge in students turning down their allocated places. These figures come from the regional council’s department. “To date, 4,630 students are eligible for student accommodation in Bologna.” However, of the 2,524 students summoned for allocation, “52 per cent of those newly summoned have turned down their place. Out of 1,430 calls, only 595 students accepted the accommodation, whilst 745 refused or failed to turn up”. The trend of refusals is confirmed: young people today are requesting single rooms and are more reluctant to accept double rooms, which make up the majority of the public provision. “There has also been an evolution in students’ needs; the mere availability of a bed is no longer sufficient to attract users unless accompanied by living comfort, digital facilities and convenient proximity to the universities”. The Regional Executive speculates that these cancellations “are encouraged by the provision of private student accommodation under the NRRP”, where 30 per cent of places are allocated under special agreements for facilities “which may be equipped with study rooms, soundproofed rooms, gyms, air conditioning and Wi-Fi at the same subsidised rate as more traditional public halls of residence”. The residents were also protesting against the “excessive luxury” of the new halls of residence created under the PNRR. Perhaps they should seek the opinion of their colleagues.